Debate on the provision of home care by illegally employed foreigners
On November 26th 2006, the parliament passed an amnesty law on nurses employed illegally. According to this law the employment of nurses was exempt from punishment until July 2007 if the nurses were registered at the social insurance.
Social service organisations estimate about 40,000 people, mostly women from Slovakia and the Czech Republic, to be working illegally in Austria providing home care to the sick and elderly in private households. Often these women provide a 24h live-in service for two weeks in a row at a rate of 40 to 60 Euros per day. After a long period of toleration, complaints against individuals have now been filed, and in one case known a fine has been imposed. The Minister of Economics and Labour called on the authorities not to impose fines and only to admonish offenders instead. The Federal Chancellor defended himself against allegations of having employed foreign help to care for his late mother in law illegally (like other prominent politicians, including the Federal President) by explaining the help had been organised by his sister in law. He announced to consider opening the Austrian labour market in this area for citizens of the new EU member states earlier than originally planned.
Source:
http://derstandard.at/2678349 (2006-11-29), Kurier (2006-08-12) pp. 2-3, Salzburger Nachrichten (2006-08-22) p.2, http://derstandard.at/2546374 (2006-08-25),
