Yet the law is not in force, a suit is announced. A Carinthian lawyer wants to bring the of the Austrian government announced the abolition of good Friday as a public holiday for the Protestants and Old Catholics before the constitutional court. He considers that the abolition would be discriminatory. It was just a complaint of discrimination, made a new holiday scheme is necessary.
so Far, the good Friday was in Austria only for the 300’000 members of the Evangelical churches of the Augsburg and Helvetic confession, as well as the approximately 11’000 years Old-Catholics a public holiday. Against this control is a non-denominational workers at the European court of justice (ECJ) complained. He felt discriminated against because he had to work on good Friday with no holiday pay.
The ECJ gave the man rights: Austria must eliminate the discrimination. As the have to happen, said the judge. So they brought the national-conservative coalition government of the ÖVP and the FPÖ in a thankless situation: On the one hand, the small, but still significant protest anti-pounded ash Church on their traditional holiday. On the other hand, the economy in the government of Sebastian Kurz particularly strong influence declined, every other holiday, categorically.
dignitaries of the Evangelical Church
horrified, As a typical Austrian compromise, the government invented first the “half-holiday”: On good Friday, all employees should have from 14 o’clock free. The was rejected after strong protests of workers and officials. Friday afternoon in the Austrian administrative offices and offices already since the beginning of the weekend.
Instead, the free good Friday is abolished now. For this, every worker should have the right to a personal holiday. He must sign up, however, three months previously.
New rule until 2020
Satisfied with the new rule, only the government parties and the representatives of the employer. The would be horrified-makers of the Evangelical Church and feel to your holiday cheated. The representatives of workers ‘ organizations, to cancel all lawsuits, because the legislature engages in collective agreements. The opposition parties sharply criticize the disregard for the Parliament. The government parties were prevented by a Trick in the rules of procedure, the consultation procedure of the draft law. Nevertheless, the new rule is likely to be only for the good Friday 2020 is valid – if it is not overturned by a court.
Also, other minor religion, its own holidays have communities, they are not affected by the new law. Catholic public holidays in Austria for all. And in comparison with other EU countries, Austria has also with the new law, quite a few of these religious holidays: 12 nationwide, as well as 1 to 3 in addition, per state.
(editing Tamedia)
Created: 28.02.2019, 20:21 PM
