Last week in Austrian law

01 Jun – 07 Jun 2026

Austria's most significant federal law changes this week include a temporary reduction in mineral oil tax on petrol and diesel for June 2026 to cushion consumers from fuel price spikes, as set out in BGBl. II Nr. 129/2026. On the fiscal side, four states — Burgenland, Lower Austria, Salzburg, and Styria — have formally joined the Austrian Stability Pact 2025 retroactively from 1 January 2024. The Federal Equal Treatment Act (B-GlBG) was updated to incorporate the EU Pay Transparency Directive (2023/970/EU), with related Dienstrechts-Novelle 2025 amendments in force since 1 April 2025. Meanwhile, the Gas System Usage Fees Ordinance 2013 (GSNE-VO 2013) received explicit expiry dates for four tariff provision sets, most running until 1 January 2027.

Legal updates

InfoFederal·08 Jun 2026BGBl. Nr. 31/1976
Metadata update and formatting corrections in refrigeration mechanic apprenticeship exam rules
This regulation, which has already been repealed, received a metadata update (last modified date changed from May 2026 to June 2026) and several formatting corrections. The only substantive change is that "Mechaniker" (mechanic) was added as an additional profession eligible to take the supplementary exam in refrigeration mechanics, alongside electricians and electrical machine builders.
Education
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ImportantFederal·08 Jun 2026BGBl. III Nr. 32/2003
Agreement between Austria and UNHCR repealed effective 29 June 2026
Austria's 2003 agreement with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) regarding UNHCR's participation in asylum procedures for applications made at airport border controls is being repealed on 29 June 2026 by Federal Law Gazette III No. 68/2026. This affects asylum procedures at Austrian airports and UNHCR's role in them.
ImmigrationTreaty
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InfoFederal·08 Jun 2026BGBl. III Nr. 93/2018
MLI contracting-party list updated to BGBl. III Nr. 70/2026: new states and notifications added
Austria's official publication of the Multilateral Convention (MLI) on tax-treaty-related BEPS measures has been updated with the full consolidated list of contracting parties and detailed country notifications, reflecting changes through BGBl. III Nr. 70/2026 (last updated 2026-06-08). Newly reflected parties include Argentina, Montenegro, Kenya, and Peru, while Georgia and Ukraine filed additional notifications.
Treaty
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ImportantFederal·08 Jun 2026BGBl. Nr. 28/1976
Repeat exam scope and supplementary exam eligibility revised for hotel & catering apprenticeship
Two substantive rules in the examination regulations for the Hotel- und Gastgewerbeassistent (hotel and catering assistant) apprenticeship have been updated: the scope of repeat exams when two practical subjects are failed has been narrowed, and detailed supplementary exam (Zusatzprüfung) pathways for graduates of related apprenticeships have been spelled out.
Education
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InfoFederal·08 Jun 2026BGBl. III Nr. 66/2026
Austria-Mongolia social security agreement enters into force
Austria and Mongolia have concluded a bilateral agreement on social security (Abkommen) that coordinated pension, health insurance, and other benefits between the two countries. The agreement took effect on August 1, 2026, and establishes rules on residence, court fees, and stamp duties related to social security claims.
EmploymentTreaty
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InfoFederal·08 Jun 2026BGBl. III Nr. 155/2008
Iceland added as party to the Optional Protocol of the UN Disability Rights Convention (BGBl III 69/2026)
The list of states party to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) has been updated: Iceland has now also ratified the Optional Protocol (the mechanism allowing individuals to file complaints with the UN Committee), recorded under BGBl III 69/2026. The document's last-updated timestamp was also refreshed from 8 May 2026 to 8 June 2026.
Treaty
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InfoFederal·08 Jun 2026BGBl. III Nr. 219/2005
Albania joins the WHO FCTC Illicit Trade Protocol; Austrian party list updated (BGBl. III Nr. 71/2026)
The Austrian official record of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) has been updated to show that Albania has acceded to the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products (P1), as published in BGBl. III Nr. 71/2026. Metadata fields (last-updated date, subject classification) were also refreshed, and a trailing blank line was removed.
Treaty
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ImportantFederal·05 Jun 2026BGBl. Nr. 207/1976
New supplementary exam provisions added for engraver apprenticeship qualification
A new supplementary exam section has been added to the engraver apprenticeship qualification regulation. Individuals who have successfully completed apprenticeships in related trades (goldsmiths, jewelers, engravers of music, chasers, or photoengravers) may now take a supplementary exam in the engraver trade, with specific subject requirements depending on their original qualification. The regulation was last updated on 5 June 2026.
Education
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ImportantFederal·05 Jun 2026BGBl. Nr. 603/1974
Exam duration for metal and steel grinder apprenticeship exam reduced from 5 to 4 hours
The practical exam (Prüfarbeit) for apprentices completing their metal and steel grinder training is now required to be completable in four working hours instead of five. This change affects apprentices and training providers in Austria.
Education
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ImportantFederal·05 Jun 2026BGBl. II Nr. 309/2012
GSNE-VO 2013: 2026 tariff provisions given explicit expiry dates — most until 1 Jan 2027, one until 6 Jun 2026
Four sets of tariff provisions in Austria's Gas System Usage Fees Ordinance 2013 (GSNE-VO 2013) that took effect on 1 January 2026 have been amended by BGBl. II Nr. 131/2026 to include explicit expiry dates. Three of the four provision sets expire on 1 January 2027 at 6:00 a.m.; one provision set covering fees for miscellaneous services expired on 6 June 2026 at 6:00 a.m.
Environment
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InfoFederal·03 Jun 2026BGBl. Nr. 254/1978
Repealed 1978 business-consultant licensing regulation: exam-procedure text and metadata added
The digital record of this regulation — repealed since 5 February 1998 — was updated to include previously missing exam-procedure provisions and refreshed metadata. The changes document what was required for the written and oral qualification exam when the regulation was in force.
Business
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ImportantFederal·02 Jun 2026BGBl. Nr. 280/1980
Federal Agricultural/Forestry Service Law: new severance pay rules for partial-pension workers, effective 1 Jan 2026
The 2025 Employment Law Amendment (Dienstrechts-Novelle 2025, BGBl. I Nr. 100/2025) inserts two new paragraphs into § 92b of the Land- und Forstarbeiter-Dienstrechtsgesetz, governing the old-style lump-sum severance pay (Abfertigung) in cases involving a partial pension (Teilpension). The new rules take effect on 1 January 2026 and apply only to workers whose federal employment began before 1 January 2003.
Employment
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InfoFederal·02 Jun 2026BGBl. Nr. 423/1989
Archived text of repealed 1989 gas/water installation qualification regulation completed with exam standards and fee basis
The stored text of the 1989 ordinance on proving qualification for the gas and water pipe installation trade (repealed since 31 January 1995) has been updated: exam content requirements and the fee calculation base have been added, and metadata has been refreshed. Because the regulation is already repealed, there is no current practical effect.
Business
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ImportantFederal·02 Jun 2026BGBl. Nr. 244/1969
Repealed agricultural/forestry contract teachers' law: salary tables swapped between periods, highest pay version deleted
Two documented historical versions of the monthly salary table (§ 19, pay group 'pd') and their pay-advancement rules have had their content exchanged with each other, while a third, higher-paid version (€3,636–€6,461/month) has been deleted entirely. Service allowances (§ 20) and several other pay provisions (§§ 21–25) were restructured the same way. The law was repealed on 30 December 2009, but historical pay figures may still be relevant for pension and back-pay calculations.
EducationEmployment
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ImportantFederal·02 Jun 2026BGBl. Nr. 209/1974
Added supplementary examination pathways for gas installer apprentices from related trades
The regulation now permits apprentices who have completed final exams in related trades (water pipe installer, coppersmith, mechanic, pipe fitter, locksmith, roofer, or central heating installer) to take a supplementary examination to qualify as a gas installer. Supplementary exam requirements and procedures are now defined.
Education
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InfoFederal·02 Jun 2026BGBl. Nr. 210/1974
§ 4(3) clarified: failed subjects must be from practical or theoretical exam; plus minor text fixes
A clarification in § 4(3) now explicitly states that the relaxed retake window (3–6 months) applies only when one or two subjects from the practical or theoretical examination were failed — not just any subjects. Several cosmetic text fixes (capitalisation, punctuation, metadata date) were also made. The regulation itself is already repealed.
Education
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ImportantFederal·02 Jun 2026BGBl. Nr. 100/1993
B-GlBG: EU Pay Transparency Directive added; Dienstrechts-Novelle 2025 amendments in force since 1 April 2025
The Federal Equal Treatment Act (B-GlBG) now lists the EU Pay Transparency Directive (2023/970/EU, CELEX 32023L0970) as one of the EU directives it implements. A new § 47 paragraph 34 confirms that several provisions were amended by the Dienstrechts-Novelle 2025 (BGBl. I Nr. 100/2025) and entered into force on 1 April 2025.
EmploymentGovernment
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InfoFederal·01 Jun 2026BGBl. Nr. 327/1975
Added supplementary exam provisions for butcher apprentices with prior chef training
The regulation now permits persons who have successfully completed a chef apprenticeship to take a supplementary exam to qualify as a butcher, with specific exam components and deadlines. Additionally, persons who completed a horse butcher apprenticeship may take a supplementary exam as a butcher until 31 December 1978.
Education
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ImportantFederal·01 Jun 2026BGBl. Nr. 429/1974
Addition of supplementary examination option for flat-print apprentices; metadata update
This amendment adds a new supplementary examination (Zusatzprüfung) option for apprentices who have completed their final examination in printer, copper-printer, or screen-printer trades and wish to qualify additionally in flat-print. Apprentices who completed their final examination in letterpress-printing have until 30 April 1987 to take this supplementary examination. The change also updates the law's metadata (last updated date and subject classification).
Education
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ImportantFederal·01 Jun 2026BGBl. II Nr. 129/2026
Temporary fuel tax reduction for June 2026 to cushion excessive price increases
Austria implements a one-month reduction in mineral oil tax (excise duty) on petrol and diesel in June 2026 to help shield consumers and businesses from fuel price spikes. The reduction applies to fuel on which tax liability arises between 1 June and 30 June 2026.
TaxTransport
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