Austrian Wirtschaftskammer advances major structural reforms

The Wirtschaftskammer Österreich (WKO) presented a mid‑year assessment of its 2026 reform programme, aiming to modernise and streamline the chamber. Key measures include cutting the General Secretariat from four to two staff members, reducing the overall workforce by 200 of the 800 employees in the Vienna office, and lowering the chamber levy (KU2) to free about €100 million per year for member companies by 2030.

Reform supporters praised the introduction of the largest wage‑cost reduction in decades, a new “active pension” for self‑employed, and the adoption of a “sparse, slim, stronger” principle. Critics from several parliamentary factions argued that the €100 million relief is insufficient given the chamber’s €1.3 billion revenue and over €2 billion in reserves, and called for deeper structural changes, including a total abolition of the KU2 levy and consolidation of the nine regional chambers.

The chamber also received several audit reports from the Austrian Rechnungshof, which it will review before publishing its responses. All parliamentary factions agreed that the reform process must continue, despite differing views on its scope and pace.