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The government announced more key points about the third shutdown announced on Friday, which will begin on December 26. ÖP Education Minister Heinz Faßmann explained the school’s schedule, while Finance Minister Gernot Blümel announced the details of the financial aid.
AUSTRIA. School begins at the end of the Christmas holidays on January 7 in distance education, classroom lessons begin on January 18. Schools remained open to the need for care or support with learning, also for the higher level. However, for specific measures like school work, students must be present and at the same time a maximum of 50 percent of the students in the class. At the end of the semester there are certificates, during these holidays special lessons are given in schools. An extensive program of remedial and supplemental classes with additional hours is currently underway for the summer semester; the number of places in summer schools is doubling. The kindergartens also remained open, the mandatory kindergarten year will be suspended.
Trade unionists call for even more funding opportunities
The Paul Kimberger Senior Teachers Union (FCG), in view of the recent shift from teaching to distance learning, called for a large increase in funding measures, and that’s it. More staff in the form of teachers-in-training is needed to support children and young people in schools. The respective locations must independently decide the type of financing, Kimberger told the APA.
For SPÖ education spokesperson Sonja Hammerschmid, taking the third step towards distance education is “inexcusable.” Apparently nothing has been learned in the last ten months and no test strategies or safety concepts have been presented other than ventilation and masks. “Why is it possible to ski with friends but not learn together at school? The establishment of priorities of this government is really absurd ”. For FPÖ education spokesperson Hermann Brückl, the renewed shift to distance education is “the absolutely wrong path” and Faßmann is ready to resign.
Aid provided for indirectly affected companies
For companies, Finance Minister Blümel pointed to revenue replacement for companies until the end of the year that would have to close during closing. The basis for replacement sales is December sales. After December 31, a subsidy to fixed costs or a replacement of losses would be possible, said the Minister of Finance, which assumes around 300 million euros.
There is still no concept of support for suppliers who are indirectly affected by the forced closure of companies. This was promised for December, so indirectly affected companies can also submit applications. Blümel estimates that this aid would amount to just under one billion euros.
Part-time work not yet negotiated
Meanwhile, aid limits have become a problem for many companies. There are new efforts to increase the ceilings for the fixed cost subsidy (€ 800,000 per company) and loss compensation (€ 3 million). Negotiations were ongoing with the EU Commission, and Germany was campaigning for it too. The Ministry of Labor and the social partners will negotiate how short-time work will continue.
Spectacular location for tourism and gastronomy
The situation is also dramatic in the areas of gastronomy, tourism and events. Tourism Minister Elisabeth Köstinger (ÖVP) gave an overview of the problems and the “dramatic situation” in these industries. International guests were absent from tourism. If the number of infections decreases, unlocking is possible from January 18, with the “free trial”, hotel reservations and restaurant visits should be possible again.
The President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKÖ), Harald Mahrer, and General Secretary Karlheinz Kopf (both ÖVP) welcomed the expansion of public support for companies. Wolfgang Ecker (ÖVP), President of the Lower Austrian Chamber of Commerce: “The third closure must be the last. Our companies urgently need quick help without bureaucracy. They could not face a fourth blockade. ” The economy gave everything from the beginning and, despite the high financial burdens, it installed prevention and security measures and implemented them responsibly.
Skiing: the federal states are working on a concept
It has been agreed with the federal states that the test trails will be available to the population. When skiing, an agreement was reached on the procedure with the governors. The last decision is made by the federal states, since the situation is extremely different. The minister mentioned Tyrol as an example, which relies heavily on foreign tourists, in contrast to ski areas in Lower Austria, where day trips from Vienna, for example, are used to its capacity. Basically the same rules apply to gastronomy in ski areas as in other parts of Austria, Köstinger said. So you can basically offer to pick up food and drink. For ski areas, however, there are special challenges and needs, which is why the federal and state governments are currently discussing practical management, according to the Ministry of Tourism. The federal states want to come up with uniform rules under the leadership of Salzburg.
Extension of the reduced working day in tourism
There are still agreements with the Ministry of Health on the exact rules for masks. Basically, the masks should be worn on cable cars in the same way as on other means of public transport, where passengers are reminded to wear. However, coordination with the Ministry of Health is still required regarding FFP2 masks, which can be slightly moistened outdoors and then possibly have the opposite effect.
The tourism industry is currently negotiating the extension of the short-time work model for January, Köstinger added. Insolvency protection of € 300 million has already been negotiated for the travel industry.
In short: lockdown until January 18, “then as free as possible”
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