Austrian Federal Economic Chamber plans to cut 200 jobs by the end of 2027

Background and Prehistory

Background and Prehistory: Schultz initially took office as interim president after her predecessor Harald Mahrer resigned prematurely in the fall of the previous year. She has held the office permanently since January of this year. She heads the ÖVP Business Association, which holds an absolute majority within the Economic Chamber. The reforms have been and continue to be demanded from many sides and by the factions in the economic parliament.

Impact on Employees

Impact on Employees: As part of the restructuring, Schultz has already eliminated two of the three deputy positions in the General Secretariat under Secretary-General Jochen Danninger. One of the affected deputies, Eva-Maria Liebmann, is moving to the Styrian Chamber of Commerce. The other affected deputy, Thomas Spann, will take on the role of Head of Transformation for the WKÖ during the restructuring phase. Both individuals will therefore remain with the chamber in changed roles.

Spann is also intended to serve as the central point of contact for the reform efforts of the nine provincial chambers, which also need to implement savings. Particular focus will be placed on realigning the WKÖ's communication activities. The further education platform 'wise up' will be closed and partially integrated into WIFI. The job cuts will be implemented gradually and in coordination with the works council, and are intended to be "socially compatible."

Goals and Savings Measures

Goals and Savings Measures: The WKÖ stated that it wants to support affected employees in the best possible way. Martha Schultz formulated the goal verbatim: "The goal is a modern, effective interest representation that is consistently oriented towards the requirements of businesses." They are eliminating "dualities, inefficiencies, and lack of clarity in the organization."

Criticism from Factions

Criticism from Factions: Reactions in the economic parliament were subdued. The FPÖ, SPÖ, Greens, and NEOS in the chamber considered the savings plans insufficient, even if some described them as a step in the right direction. The reforms have been on the political agenda for months, and the pressure on the chamber's leadership is correspondingly high.

Next Steps

Next Steps: The WKÖ is also awaiting the results of an audit by the Court of Audit. A spokesperson for the Court of Audit stated that the audit is "well advanced" – verbatim: "We are well advanced." Further reform steps for the entire economic chamber organization are the main topic in the economic parliament at the end of June.

There, the course will be set for the future direction of interest representation. The federal organization, headquartered in Vienna-Wieden, is only one part of the structure: the nine provincial chambers are also called upon to make savings. The reform plans envisage completing the restructuring of the federal organization by the end of 2027.