Living & Working in Austria
Living & Working in Austria
Living & Working in Austria
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9. LIVING WITH CHILDREN<br />
9.1 Maternity Protection<br />
9.1.1 White and Blue Collar Employees and M<strong>in</strong>imum Income Employees<br />
As a rule, pregnant work<strong>in</strong>g mothers are entitled to maternity leave which starts eight weeks prior<br />
to delivery and lasts eight to sixteen weeks after delivery with an absolute ban on employment dur<strong>in</strong>g<br />
this period.<br />
Upon confirmation of pregnancy, you should immediately <strong>in</strong>form your employer. From this po<strong>in</strong>t on<br />
you are protected aga<strong>in</strong>st dismissal and term<strong>in</strong>ation.<br />
Dur<strong>in</strong>g the compulsory maternity protection period and dur<strong>in</strong>g parental leave, dismissal is only<br />
possible <strong>in</strong> exceptional cases (i.e. closure of a firm) and under court approval.<br />
Salaried and waged female employees generally receive a maternity weekly allowance (Wochengeld)<br />
dur<strong>in</strong>g the compulsory maternity protection period under certa<strong>in</strong> circumstances. Furthermore, for<br />
female employees who are not self-employed their contractual employment rema<strong>in</strong>s upheld dur<strong>in</strong>g<br />
their compulsory maternity protection period.<br />
Self-<strong>in</strong>sured m<strong>in</strong>imum <strong>in</strong>come employees are also entitled to weekly allowance. In this case, the<br />
weekly allowance amounts to 8 Euros per day (2011).<br />
Details regard<strong>in</strong>g the amount of the maternity weekly allowance can be obta<strong>in</strong>ed from the competent<br />
health <strong>in</strong>surance <strong>in</strong>stitution.<br />
Competent authority:<br />
The health <strong>in</strong>surance <strong>in</strong>stitution (Krankenkasse)<br />
Additional <strong>in</strong>formation:<br />
http://www.help.gv.at/Content.Node/8/Seite.080000.html (maternity weekly allowance)<br />
http://www.arbeiterkammer.at/onl<strong>in</strong>e/wochengeld-12596.html<br />
http://www.arbeiterkammer.at/onl<strong>in</strong>e/page.php?P=29&IP=7134&AD=2010&REFP=0<br />
(Maternity protection & parental leave brochure)<br />
9.1.2 Independent Female Contractors and Female Contract Assignees<br />
They are not protected by the Maternity Protection Act.<br />
Independent (female) contractors do however receive weekly maternity allowance related to their<br />
<strong>in</strong>come.<br />
Details regard<strong>in</strong>g the amount of the maternity weekly allowance can be obta<strong>in</strong>ed from the competent<br />
health <strong>in</strong>surance <strong>in</strong>stitution.<br />
Competent authority:<br />
The health <strong>in</strong>surance <strong>in</strong>stitution (Krankenkasse)<br />
Additional <strong>in</strong>formation:<br />
http://www.help.gv.at/Content.Node/8/Seite.080002.html#Woche<br />
http://www.arbeiterkammer.at/onl<strong>in</strong>e/wochengeld-12596.html<br />
http://www.arbeiterkammer.at/onl<strong>in</strong>e/page.php?P=29&IP=38722<br />
<strong>Liv<strong>in</strong>g</strong> & <strong>Work<strong>in</strong>g</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Austria</strong> 2011<br />
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