Austria plans to extend civilian service to eleven months

The Austrian government is planning a reform to extend the duration of civilian service from nine to eleven months. This change is intended to address personnel shortages and would be triggered if the number of basic military recruits falls below 13,875 per year.

Under the proposed plans, service members might not need to complete the extra two months consecutively; they could potentially make up the time at a later date. Another alternative being considered is the completion of 400 hours of voluntary work over a five-year period. Additionally, the reform includes plans for mandatory modular training within service organizations.

Family and Integration Minister Claudia Bauer indicated that current forecasts suggest the threshold for the extension might be met as early as next year, though the new regulations would only apply to those called up after January 1, 2027. The reform also seeks to regulate how voluntary services are credited, limiting such credits to 1 percent of a year group's conscripts.

Organizations such as the Red Cross and Diakonie have expressed support for the move, noting that increased service months would provide more personnel and allow participants to gain more practical experience. Implementing the reform requires a two-thirds majority in Parliament.