EIROnlineThe European Industrial Relations Observatory (EIRO) is a monitoring instrument offering news and analysis on European industrial relations. Its aim is to collect, analyse and disseminate high-quality and up-to-date information on key developments in industrial relations in Europe. It aims primarily to serve the needs of national and European level organisations of the social partners, governmental organisations and EU institutions.Economically dependent workers to get full social protection- February 26, 2007 In January 2007, Austrias new coalition government adopted a proposal put forward by the social partners to extend social insurance coverage for self-employed people, in particular for self-employed workers who are deemed as being economically dependent. Accordingly, self-employed people working under the same conditions as employees will be obligatorily covered by unemployment insurance or, like genuine self-employed people, may opt for this scheme on a voluntary basis.http://www.eiro.eurofound.eu.int/2007/01/articles/at0701049i.html Trade unions reject call for tax relief on childcare by women in business group- February 19, 2007 According to the organisation of women entrepreneurs within the Austrian Federal Chamber for the Economy, many self-employed women are in need of private childminding services for their children, rather than more childcare places. Since such private childminding services are more expensive, the womens organisation is calling for a tax deductibility of 10% of expenditures related to these services. The trade unions are opposed to this proposal, and continue to lobby for the creation of some...http://www.eiro.eurofound.eu.int/2007/01/articles/at0701029i.html New government to amend childcare benefit scheme- February 19, 2007 In January 2007, the new coalition government agreed to amend the existing childcare benefit scheme, which in its present form does not entirely provide for equal opportunities for men and women in accessing the labour market. The government thus decided to render the scheme more flexible in terms of benefit payments and the period of benefit eligibility. Moreover, it plans to increase the current limit of 14,600 a year on additional earnings. However, the Chamber of Labour considers the...http://www.eiro.eurofound.eu.int/2007/01/articles/at0701039i.html |