With the implementation of the aforementioned Directive (EU) 2019/1152, a new § 11b was introduced into the Austrian AVRAG (Employment Contract Law Adjustment Act). This provision stipulates that employee participation in initial, further, and continuing training must be considered working time. Additionally, the employer is required to cover the costs of such training measures if they are not borne by a third party (e.g., the Public Employment Service – AMS).
However, this rule applies only to those training measures that are necessary for the performance of the contractually agreed work and are mandated by legal provisions, regulations, collective agreements, or the employment contract.
