Heavy work pension for nurses: revolutionary reform 2026!

Heavy work pension for nurses: revolutionary reform 2026!

The VIDA union is vehemently committed to a reform of the heavy work regulation for nursing staff, which promises a fundamental improvement in the existing conditions. As part of numerous protests, they have granted their claims emphasis on what is now bearing fruits. As reported ots, the Minister of Social Affairs Korinna Schumann and the ÖVP club chairman August Wöginger announced a revised regulation that is due to come into force from 1 January 2026. This is assessed as a step to recognize the enormous challenges who face nurses every day.

The regulations that have been valid so far require nursing staff that they have to complete 15 layers a month for at least 10 years in order to acquire a claim to heavy work pension. These requirements are unrealistic for many nurses. In the future, however, the load on an hourly basis will be determined, which also takes into account psychological and multiple loads. Gerald Mjka, deputy chairman of the Vida union, emphasizes how demanding dealing with people in exceptional situations is.

Reform of heavy work regulation

The new regulation stipulates that nursing staff from the age of 60 and with at least 45 years of insurance can take advantage of the heavy work pension, provided that they have done heavy work in the past 20 years. Schumann describes the new regulation as a sign of appreciation for the nursing staff and estimates that about half of the future pensioners will benefit from this regulation, as Kurier reports.

The health challenges in this professional field are serious. Statistics show that around 48% of the nursing staff suffer from back pain, 30% fight with insomnia and 60% feel mentally stressed. The causes are diverse: physical stress, regular confrontation with suffering and death as well as high performance pressure contribute to the exhaustion of the employees: inside.

a step in the right direction

The reform is considered significant progress in order to take into account the needs of the nursing staff. Edgar Martin, Chairman of Younion - Team Health, describes the changes as overdue. In his opinion, it was necessary that care was recognized as heavy work. There are currently around 173,000 nursing staff in Austria, and an additional need for 51,000 nursing and supervisory staff is expected by 2030, which underlines the urgency of this reform, as is the [Younion] (https://www.younion.at/themen/schwerbeits-fuer--kflege-im government program).

In addition, Sylvia Gassner, chair of the VIDA field of social services, calls for specific measures to implement the reform. The new regulation is to be financed with a budget of around 40 million euros. Wöginger also explains that the bureaucracy is to be dismantled and the criteria for the evaluation should be simplified, which is crucial for the actual relief of employees in the healthcare system.

The unions continue to express their support for the necessary adjustments and are obliged to represent the interests of the nursing staff. At the same time, a focus is on the needs of working people in the healthcare system in order to improve their working conditions.