Minimum wage increase: 4% more salary for kindergarten workers in sight!

Minimum wage increase: 4% more salary for kindergarten workers in sight!

The negotiations in the Austrian Social Economy (SWÖ) have finally borne fruit! As part of intensive discussions, the GPA and vida unions were able to achieve a salary increase of 4 percent for around 130,000 employees in the private care, health and social sectors. What is particularly pleasing is that the new minimum salaries will apply from January 1, 2025. The minimum salary for kindergarten teachers will be raised to an impressive 3,063 euros, while assistants will now receive 2,137 euros per month APA OTS reported. Eva Scherz from the GPA emphasizes that this success is a direct result of the solidarity of the employees, who showed their strength at company meetings and demonstrations.

New collective agreement for more security

The new collective agreement not only includes the salary increase of 4 percent, but also brings significant improvements in terms of allowances and surcharges, which will also be increased by 4 percent. In addition, the large flexibility surcharge will increase to 50 euros, while the small surcharge will increase to 25 euros. Another important point is the social security for childminders, which was agreed with this contract Cosmo describes. This not only secures purchasing power, but also increases the attractiveness of the industry.

The negotiations were intensive and required 16 hours in which the unions did everything they could to represent the interests of the employees. Michaela Guglberger from vida highlights that successes have also been achieved in the framework of legal frameworks, including better classifications for administrative employees and additional financial incentives for spontaneous assignments. These developments are a clear sign that the challenges in the social economy are being taken seriously and appropriate measures are being implemented to improve working conditions.