The social partners, the trade unions Vida and GPA as well as the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKÖ), were able to agree on a collective agreement in the hotel and catering industry. From May 1, 2022, employees will receive an average wage and salary increase of 3,7 percent.

"The employees have more than earned this increase in income after two very challenging years full of existential fears," say Berend Tusch, chairman of the tourism department in the vida trade union, and Andreas Laaber from the GPA trade union. The new minimum wage for unskilled workers will be EUR 1 from May 1.629st and EUR 1.700 for specialists in the first two years of work. Since the last collective agreement came into force three years ago, the increase in income for a trained cook has been around 100 euros, Tusch continues. As of May 1st, apprentice salaries will be 815 euros in the first year of apprenticeship, 925 euros in the second, 1.055 euros in the third and 1.145 euros in the fourth year of apprenticeship. 

The collective agreement for workers and employees in the hotel and hospitality industry for the years 2021 and 2022, which was agreed last year, provided for an average increase in minimum wages and salaries of 1.5.2022 percent from May 2,35, 2021. However, the current inflation trend was not foreseeable during the negotiations in the first half of 1.5.2022. "Despite the extremely difficult time for the industry due to the pandemic, we also bear responsibility for our employees and have again noticeably increased the wage and salary increases that have already been decided from May XNUMX, XNUMX," comment Susanne Kraus-Winkler and Mario Pulker, chief negotiators of the hospitality trade associations in the WKÖ, the result of the negotiations.

Both sides underline the constructive climate of discussion in the negotiations. “Both the companies and the employees had to cope with many restrictions and cuts during the pandemic. With the agreement reached, which would not have been possible without good negotiating partners on both sides, everyone involved can look to the future with optimism. The social partnership has proven its worth,” conclude Tusch, Laaber, Kraus-Winkler and Pulker.