Inequality in the job: women in Lower Austria work 43 days free of charge!

Inequality in the job: women in Lower Austria work 43 days free of charge!

An alarming record for women in Austria: In 2025, women in Lower Austria work on average the first 43 days free of charge, as the Equal Treatment Advocate (GAW) reports. This corresponds approximately to every eighth year and makes Lower Austria the second worst federal state in this regard. Only in Vienna women have to work more often in Vienna, namely 16. In contrast, women in Vorarlberg have the longest time to deal with 73 free working days. The average of 44 days, which is applicable across Austria, is 44 days. This discrepancy is a clear sign of the deeply rooted remuneration, which already begins when classification of wages, as the GAW states in order to draw attention to the problem of wage relief, which cannot be completely explained by factors such as industry and work, reports noe.orf.at .

changes in the law for more equality

In order to counteract this, the equal treatment law has been changed, which now also protects people, look after children or maintain relatives. Previously, those affected had to prove that discrimination was associated with their gender, which solidified the existing gender roles. Now all employees are protected against discrimination against the compatibility of work and family. This includes flexible working hours and baren for care work. This marks a crucial step towards more gender justice, confirms Sandra Konstatzky from the GAW and adds that this legal change is a great improvement for many people, as well as reports.