Between 80,000 and 100,000 people, according to police and union data, protested on Saturday in Vienna against the Austrian government’s intention to extend working hours to 12 hours and a maximum of 60 hours of allowed weekly working time.
The protest march, organized by the powerful trade union confederation OeGB, dispersed without incident after reaching the city center. This was the first major gathering since the young conservative leader Sebastian Kurz came to power at the end of 2017. It is also the largest protest since 2003 when tens of thousands of protesters opposed pension reform.
After the government emphasized the need for businesses to be more competitive, parliament adopted the measure on Thursday, and union circles reacted with criticism, as did the Catholic Church.
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Until now, the standard working hours in Austria have been 8 hours daily and 40 weekly, with a maximum of 10 hours daily and 50 weekly allowed, while the government now wants to raise the ceiling to 12 hours daily and 60 weekly.
Under pressure from the opposition, the government amended the initial plan and guaranteed that 12 hours daily or 60 weekly would only be achieved on a voluntary basis.
OeGB President Wolfgang Katzian called on the ruling coalition, elected on the promise to expand the scope of direct democracy, to ask the people for their opinion in a referendum.
After six months of the coalition, “the people are holding the government accountable,” assessed former Chancellor Christian Kern, head of the Social Democratic Party.
