General information on equal treatment in the private sector

The requirement on equal treatment in the private sector is regulated by the Equal Treatment Act.

The prohibition on discrimination in association with an employment relationship in the private sector covers the following areas:

• establishment of the employment relationship
• fixing of salary
• voluntary social benefits (e.g. loyalty bonuses, company canteens) that do not constitute salary
• operational training, further training and retraining measures
• promotions
• other working conditions
• termination of the employment relationship
• (sexual) harassment.

There are also exemptions, however. For example, discrimination on the basis of age has not occurred if the unequal treatment:

• is objective and appropriate
• is justified by a legitimate aim, e.g. by a legitimate aim from the area of employment policy
• and the means for achieving that aim are appropriate and necessary.

The prohibition on discrimination in the wider working world covers the following areas:

• career guidance, vocational training, workplace training and retraining outside of an employment relationship
• membership of an employees’ or employers’ organisation and recourse to the services of such organisations
• creation, establishment or expansion of a company and commencement or extension of any other kind of self-employed activity
• (sexual) harassment.

The Equal Treatment Act applies to employees, home workers and employee-like persons (e.g. independent contractors).
In the event of a violation of the requirement for equal treatment, those affected by discrimination may contact the Ombud for Equal Treatment for advice.

More detailed information on the subject of "Sexual harassment at the workplace" can also be found at oesterreich.gv.at. Further information on forms of discrimination (including, in particular, with regard to salary) can also be found at USP.gv.at.

An evaluation was carried out in 2015/2016 on the tools for enforcing equal treatment, under the joint supervision of the Federal Ministry for Labour, Social Affairs and Consumer Protection and the Federal Ministry for Health and Women’s Affairs.

The chief objective of the evaluation was to highlight the numerous facets of the Equal Treatment Act and the Federal Act on the Equal Treatment Commission and the Ombud for Equal Treatment and, in particular, to investigate the efficiency of existing regulations from an expert point of view.

The knowledge and findings obtained were summarised in a report, which also detailed the differing views taken by the experts on each individual point. Proposals for improvement and/or further development were also put forward on some points. These proposals have been included in the report despite being mostly regarded as controversial by the experts.

Further links

• Final report on the evaluation of the legislative tools for equal treatment and comments from interest groups (→ BMAW) ^{German text}
• Ombud for Equal Treatment (→ GAW) ^{German text}
• Public Employment Service (→ AMS) ^{German text}

Legal basis

• Bundesgesetz über die Gleichbehandlungskommission und die Gleichbehandlungsanwaltschaft^{German text}
• Bundesgesetz über die Gleichbehandlung^{German text}