Interest groups from the arts and culture and the trade union initiative vidaflex are calling for an urgent adjustment of social security benefits for artists.
Vienna, 11.06.2024
Dear Federal Chancellor Nehammer,
dear Federal Minister Kocher,
dear Federal Minister Kogler,
dear Federal Minister Rauch,
dear State Secretary Mayer!
Solo self-employed, atypically and hybrid employed artists and cultural workers generate high revenues with their creative work for their clients, but are themselves highly vulnerable under social law. This is an imbalance that can no longer be tolerated, especially not in Austria as a "cultural country".
Social security outside of the "employer-employee" constellation is problematic to almost non-existent in Austria. The constantly growing group of atypical or hybrid employees, the newly self-employed and, in particular, the solo self-employed need solutions.
The arts and culture sector is a sector in which special constellations of social insurance law culminate - there is hardly a combination of special rules with special sub-rules for which examples cannot be found in the arts and culture. In some cases, extremely complex employment relationships exist in this occupational field, but these are neither considered nor safeguarded in social security legislation. Proposed solutions are on the table.
We, the undersigned, presented a deliberately concise position paper a year ago, focusing on four easy-to-implement steps. The text is available in the Austrian parliament as a parliamentary petition and has numerous supporters. An announced round table with participation from BMKOeS, BMS, social insurances, the KSVF and representatives of the signatories has taken place, announced further steps came to nothing.
Nevertheless, we have one result: there has recently been a significant deterioration in one area. The BMA used the inclusion of multiple marginally employed workers in unemployment insurance, as decreed by the VFGH, as an opportunity to systematically push this group into social insecurity.
There is still no cross-legal and cross-institutional advice center and information in several languages, but at least in English, good coverage for solo self-employed persons in the event of illness or adjustments to unemployment insurance law.
The position paper is more relevant than ever .
We need a future-oriented and long-term strategy to improve the social security of artists and cultural workers, who would otherwise end up in (old-age) poverty and in social transfer payments. We want artists to be able to work, earn an income and provide for their social security through their own efforts and on the basis of laws that do not discriminate against them. To do this, they need the support of politicians and the law!
We remain ready for constructive cooperation with you as representatives of the government! The next elections are just around the corner and time is running out.
Yours sincerely,
Kulturrat Österreich
Dachverband der Österreichischen Filmschaffenden
IG Autorinnen Autoren
IG Freie Musikschaffende
IG Freie Theaterarbeit
Initiative Tanz und Bewegungskunst Österreich
vidaflex, Vereinigung der Ein-Personen-Unternehmen Österreich