Legal Migration in Austria: From Historical Development to ... · Net migration Austria, net migration (1961 – 2017) Development of Labour Migration in Austria Phase Background

Legal Migration in Austria: From Historical

Development to Current trends Maria-Alexandra Bassermann

Valletta, 13 November 2018

Source: Statistics Austria

Foreign nationals

Austrian nationals

Net migration

Austria, net migration (1961 – 2017)

Development of Labour Migration in Austria

Phase Background conditions General legal trends

Selected measures

Labour Migration (1960–1968)

• Emigration of Austrian workers

• Post-World War II economic boom

Migration policy as economic component dictated by the labour market

“Raab-Olah Agreement” of 1961 (fixed annual contingents for so-called “guest workers” manly from Turkey and former Yugoslavia)

From Labour Migration to Family Migration (1969 –1984)

• Economic recession • Previously emigrated

Austrian workers come back home

Tightening of political measures

Act Governing the Employment of Foreigners 1975 (new restrictions for foreign workers)

Development of Labour Migration in Austria

Phase Background conditions General legal trends

Selected measures

Increased Migration (1985–1992)

• Fall of the Iron Curtain and civil war in former Yugoslavia

• Increased refugee inflows and politically demanded “zero immigration”

Stricter immigration policies and laws

Introduction of quota system for work permits in 1990

Evolution of the Austrian Aliens Law (1993–today)

• Key worker system does not meet demand

• Opening of the labour market to the EU-8

• EU Blue Card Directive and Single Permit Directive

Attempts to manage migration more efficiently through creating several “channels of immigration”

Aliens Law Package 2011: Points-based Red-White-Red Card introduced to facilitate immigration of highly qualified migrants; replaces previous quota system

5 Source: Statistics Austria

Current Legal Migration Trends

EU and EFTA states 56%

Third Countries and Unknown

34%

Austria 10%

Immigration to Austria by Group of Citizenship (2017)

6 Source: Eurostat

Other reasons (e.g. residence

without the right to work,

international protection)

62%

Family reasons 25%

Education reasons 8%

Remunerated activities reasons

5%

First Residence Permits Granted in Austria by Reason (2017)

Current Legal Migration Trends

Current Legal Migration Policies

Aim: to facilitate the admission of qualified workers and to counteract wage and social dumping

• Revision of the Red-White-Red Card’s points system (language and experience are now rated higher than age).

• Period of validity of the Red-White-Red Card extended from one to two years.

Aim: to facilitate the admission of startup founders and to promote innovation

• Separate Red-White-Red Card introduced (at least EUR 50,000 in start-up capital).

Aim: to facilitate the admission and stay of students and researchers

• New option of a one-time extension of the Temporary Residence Permit – Student for the purpose of seeking employment.

• Maximum number of working hours for students increased to a uniform level of 20 hours per week.

Labour Market Integration

Labour market integration is as a key component of the integration process in Austria.

Integration Act 2017: attributes a major role to measures that are aimed at facilitating rapid labour market entry; earning one’s own living is referred to as key for successful integration.

One example of an integration measure is the integration agreement (considered a key integration instrument for migrants before and shortly after immigration):

• Aims to encourage migrants to improve their language skills and become better oriented in society.

• Migrants commit themselves to acquiring German language skills and a knowledge of the democratic system.

• Two modules: 1) German at level A2 and fundamental values of the Austrian legal and social

system within two years. 2) German at level B1 and values in more detail.

Thank you for your attention!

National Contact Point Austria in the European Migration Network

IOM Country Office for Austria, Nibelungengasse 13/4, 1010 Vienna Tel: +43 1 585 33 22 | Fax: +43 1 585 33 22 30

[email protected]|www.emn.at