Shortage of workers: WK Tirol demands an increase in seasonal quotas
There are currently 602 seasonal worker applications. This could relieve the companies and their employees and employees, the Tyrolean Chamber of Commerce explains in a broadcast: “But the rigid seasonal quota prevents this emergency aid.”
INNSBRUCK. There are currently an estimated 6,700 vacancies in Tyrol’s tourism businesses – and that at the start of a promising winter season. The consequences are obvious, explains WK President Christopher Walser:
“An unreasonable additional burden for the employees and entrepreneurial families as well as expected losses in service quality. That endangers the reputation of the entire industry – and thus of the Tyrol as a location.”
Tyrolean tourism secures thousands of jobs across all sectors: 70% of all expenditures by tourism companies – from grocery shopping to handicraft orders to website design – are made within their own region, another 20% within Austria and only 10% are imported from abroad. This makes tourism a regional value-added engine.
increase required
As of the end of November, there were 602 applications for employment from third-country nationals. 602 people have been waiting – some for months – for a “go” and could start working as seasonal workers in the Tyrolean companies the next day and thus provide relief. From today’s point of view, however, it will end up with 602 links. Because the seasonal quota of 709 people has already been used up.
“If politicians don’t react quickly and the quota is at least increased in view of the dramatic situation, these interested parties are lost – they then start a job in another country where they are welcome,” explains the new chairman of the tourism and leisure industry division , Alois Rainer.
Articles about the Tyrol Chamber of Commerce in the district newspapers can be found here
Whereby an increase is only the second-best solution, because even lifting the numerical upper limit provides for damage if a replacement worker procedure is carried out in part by the AMS and it turns out that the position in question cannot be placed above the domestic labor market.
![](https://media04.meinbezirk.at/article/2022/12/14/3/32116633_L.jpg?1671011468)
Where is the problem?
Christoph Walser and Alois Rainer don’t understand the problem: All foreign employees are registered with the social security system and wage tax is paid. All contingent employees are controlled and limited in Tyrol. Not a single seasonal worker takes a job away from a resident.
“In view of the full employment in the country and the massive shortage of workers, there are no objective reasons against raising the quota or removing the upper limit. Before the image of Tyrol as a tourist country is ruined due to a lack of quality, politicians must finally act and eliminate the artificial bottleneck,” Walser and Rainer demand, “immediately and not only when the guests are already in the country.”