Dear Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker,
Dear Minister of Arts and Culture Andreas Babler,
Dear Minister of Social Affairs Korinna Schumann,
Dear Members of the National Council´s Committees on Culture and Social Affairs,
Joblessness quickly becomes a poverty trap. Until now, income below the marginal earnings threshold on top of unemployment benefits or emergency assistance have been possible. This is set to end in 2026. The justification: marginal work is “in many cases a hindrance” to returning to fully insured employment. The opposite is true in the sector of arts and culture. Furthermore, (short-term) marginal jobs characterize this profession – be they performed alongside a fully insured job or during a period of unemployment: a day of filming, an artist talk, a teaching event.
In future, this means that those entitled to unemployment payments will be forced to decide: either accept a marginal job and lose their allowance, or turn it down because the unemployment benefits are essential for making ends meet. Only 100% unemployment will be tolerated when this change in the law comes into effect on 1 January 2026. This opens up new poverty traps. And it is counterproductive for job seekers – especially in sectors such as art and culture, where professional activity and presence are essential for subsequent employment. The proposed exceptions, where supplementary income is still possible, are insufficient.
At the same time, this government has committed to improving social security in the arts and culture. From the government program: “In doing so, the specific realities of employment and the associated framework conditions under labor and social security law must be taken into account.” We maintain that if the abolition of additional income regulation remains as planned, the social security of artists and cultural workers will be undermined and permanently damaged – even before the inter-ministerial working group announced in the government program is even implemented.
Reversing this measure is still an option. We urge:
- A return to the Unemployment Insurance Act (AlVG) as it currently stands: a law that repeals all changes to the AlVG from the Budget Accompanying Act. Working groups at the BMWKMS are currently set to begin improving the employment and social security of artists and cultural workers. Their results remain to be seen.
- At the bare minimum: regulations that define all temporary marginal employment (dependent) and contracts (self-employed) as legal exceptions.
- At the bare minimum: regulations to ensure that self-employed income OUTSIDE of unemployment benefits does not pose a threat to unemployment and related cash benefits. A demarcation from self-employed income must be possible in order to prevent retroactive exclusions and claims for repayment of unemployment benefits.
- At the bare minimum: widening the possibility for all ”Neue Selbstständige” to declare a suspension of self-employed activities.
(Translation: Ida Cerne)