UNOS Advocate for Significant Relief and Comprehensive Chamber Reforms at Austrian Economic Parliament

The entrepreneurial association UNOS has put forward key reform proposals ahead of the upcoming session of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber's Economic Parliament. Their agenda focuses on delivering substantial financial relief to businesses and initiating structural changes within the chamber's operations.

At the heart of the UNOS proposal is the call for the complete elimination of the Chamber Levy 2 (Kammerumlage 2, KU2), a charge that many businesses consider burdensome and detrimental to competitiveness. According to UNOS, this levy increases labor costs and poses particular challenges for export-oriented enterprises, affecting Austria's attractiveness as a business location. The association argues that removing this levy would provide direct financial relief to companies across the country and strengthen the overall economic environment.

In addition to addressing the chamber levy, UNOS has submitted a motion seeking a balanced adjustment to the compensation structure for employees of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKO). The proposal suggests a socially graduated approach: employees earning up to the average income would see their salaries adjusted in line with inflation, while those with higher earnings would receive a more modest increase of 1.5%. UNOS emphasizes that this strategy aims to reflect the economic realities faced by member companies, many of which are contending with significant cost pressures. By advocating for measured compensation increases, UNOS seeks to set an example for responsible wage policy within the chamber itself.

UNOS identifies these measures as part of a broader reform agenda intended to modernize and streamline the chamber's structure. They stress the importance of greater transparency and more efficient allocation of financial resources to ensure that the needs of member businesses are met effectively. The association is urging the chamber to reduce bureaucracy and simplify administrative processes, aligning its functions more closely with the expectations and challenges faced by Austria's business community.

Since its founding in 2014, UNOS has represented the interests of liberal-minded entrepreneurs within the chamber and is now active in eight regional economic parliaments. With these latest proposals, the association aims to prompt decisive action that prioritizes the interests of member companies and fosters a more dynamic and responsive chamber environment. The upcoming Economic Parliament session is expected to address these reform initiatives, which, if adopted, could mark a significant shift in the chamber's approach to supporting Austrian businesses.