Insolvency drama at Kika/Leiner: Vienna starts help for affected employees!

Insolvency drama at Kika/Leiner: Vienna starts help for affected employees!

A dramatic insolvency drama around the Kika/Leiner furniture chain shakes Austria - on time for pre -Christmas time, 1350 employees are affected, including up to 190 in Vienna. The city reacts quickly to the crisis and becomes active by launching an insolvency foundation with the Viennese employee Funding Fund (WAFF). "A company bankruptcy is a shock. But we do not let those affected down," explains City Councilor Peter Hanke. The city provides rapid help through job placement, retraining and further training offers.

financial support and perspectives

The offer of support includes up to three years of professional reorientation. Unemployed can be promoted by the AMS during this time and receive a monthly grant of 100 euros from the waff. This gives the employees concerned the opportunity to expand their know-how through degrees or further training. "Together we will succeed in accompanying everyone on the way to an individually suitable solution," said Winfried Göschl, head of the AMS Vienna. For 2025, over half a million euros are also planned for these projects.

In addition, the Lower Austria Chamber of Lower Austria has already registered claim claims of around 11.5 million euros in the St. Pölten Regional Court and the insolvency fee fund for 3077 employees. These claims concern the period from June 1 to 13, 2023 and were processed as quickly as possible by the bankruptcy department of AK Lower Austria. "Due to the high number of employees, this was a huge challenge," explains Ingrid Anzeletti, head of the presentation. For more information, a hotline and a special email address are available to the employees concerned, such as Kurier.at reported.

The economic situation and the shortage of skilled workers require new approaches, which is why the focus is on training and further education. The city of Vienna intensifies its commitment to offer the former Kika/Leiner employee new perspectives. "We can not only offer mediation but also targeted qualifications in order to meet the increasing demands on the labor market," emphasizes Hanke, while the focus is on professions in IT, healthcare and social areas.