Care Bonus: Schumann Wants Statutory Safeguarding

Schumann now wants to create a mandatory earmarking of the funds for the payment of the bonus. Asked whether the earmarking of the funds for the bonus had already been agreed upon, Schumann said they wanted to "nun auf den Weg bringen". This is intended to ensure that the funds actually reach employees in care and support services.

Background: Wave of Protest from Salzburg

The background to the announcement is a wave of protest that originated in Salzburg. Following the announcement in Salzburg that the bonus would no longer be paid, a wave of protest ensued, including one of the largest demonstrations in decades in Salzburg. The GÖD trade union recalled that it had fought "gemeinsam mit vielen Beschäftigten und der Bevölkerung" in Salzburg last year to preserve the care bonus.

The reactions from the trade unions were predominantly positive. GPA chairwoman Barbara Teiber spoke of a "wichtigen und längst überfälligen Schritt". The past months had shown "wie schnell die Wertschätzung der Beschäftigten zum politischen Spielball wird, sobald Budgetlöcher an anderer Stelle zu stopfen sind". "Wer jeden Tag Verantwortung für die Gesundheit anderer übernimmt, muss sich darauf verlassen können, dass auch die Politik zu ihren Versprechen steht", the union representative said.

Voices from the Trade Unions

The vida trade union also weighed in. The vida trade union likewise spoke of a "wichtigen Schritt für mehr Fairness und Wertschätzung gegenüber den Beschäftigten im Pflegebereich". Vida also pointed to the context of the so-called "Sozialhilfe neu".

Martina Lackner, care expert at the ÖGB, welcomed the nationwide earmarking. "Dass durch die Zweckwidmung der Pflegebonus tatsächlich bundesweit den Beschäftigten in Pflege und Betreuung zukommt, ist eine sehr gute Nachricht", said Martina Lackner, care expert at the ÖGB, in a statement. The ÖGB also pointed to an open question: It had to be ensured that the care bonus is "auch über 2028 hinaus gewährt wird", it said.

The GÖD Health Union joined in the praise. The GÖD Health Union welcomed the earmarked safeguarding of the care bonus. This meant "sichergestellt, dass die Entgelterhöhung auch in den kommenden Jahren bei jenen ankommt, die täglich die Gesundheits- und Pflegeversorgung in Österreich sichern", said Reinhard Waldhör, chairman of the GÖD Health Union, in a statement. "Die rund 180.000 Beschäftigten haben sich diese Anerkennung verdient", he emphasized.

Approval also came from within the SPÖ ranks. SPÖ federal manager Klaus Seltenheim was also pleased about the "starke und wichtige Zeichen des Respekts und der Wertschätzung für 180.000 Pflegekräfte in Österreich". The figure of around 180,000 employees was cited in several statements.

Other Topics in the Pressestunde

In the Pressestunde, Schumann also addressed other health policy issues. At the same time, she directed an appeal to viewers to go for preventive check-ups: This was the "Chance, etwas frühzeitig zu entdecken" and to take countermeasures if necessary. As the tool of choice for better orientation of people within the system, Schumann once again described the expansion of the 1450 hotline.

On the issue of outpatient fees, the minister stuck to her rejecting stance. Once again, the minister gave a clear no to outpatient fees as a steering measure. This would primarily affect those who have little money. "Zuerst brauche ich die Versorgungsstruktur, die den Menschen die Sicherheit gibt. Nichts wäre schlechter als wenn man sie ins Leere lenken würde."

Expansion of Primary Care

Regarding the expansion of primary care, Schumann cited concrete figures. "Wir haben jetzt 116, bis 2030 werden wir 300 haben." By this she meant the primary care units (PVE) in Austria, which are to be expanded as local points of contact.

Schumann also commented on the hospital reform. Addressing concerns that smaller hospitals could be closed in the course of the reform, she countered that these could, for example, be converted into the likewise planned specialist centers. This was intended to maintain care in the region.

Next Steps and Open Questions

Overall, Schumann linked the care bonus announcement with a series of further health policy plans. These include the expansion of mobile care, the strengthening of primary care, the expansion of the 1450 hotline, and the planned specialist center structure. The statutory safeguarding of the care bonus is now to form the kickoff for this package.

According to Schumann, the next steps lie in political implementation. Asked whether the earmarking of the funds for the bonus had already been agreed upon, Schumann said they wanted to "nun auf den Weg bringen". This refers to parliamentary consideration of the issue in the coming weeks.

On the trade union side, the implementation will be closely monitored. The GÖD trade union recalled that it had fought "gemeinsam mit vielen Beschäftigten und der Bevölkerung" in Salzburg last year to preserve the care bonus. The ÖGB is also insisting on a solution beyond the end of the fiscal equalization scheme.

The demonstration in Salzburg remains remembered as a political turning point. Following the announcement in Salzburg that the bonus would no longer be paid, a wave of protest ensued, including one of the largest demonstrations in decades in Salzburg. The current nationwide solution is also interpreted as a response to this pressure.