New minimum wage tariff for plastic goods homeworkers: €12.18 per hour plus 10% supplement
Austria's Federal Arbitration Office has issued a binding wage tariff for self-employed homeworkers engaged in manufacturing or processing plastic goods. The tariff sets a minimum hourly rate of €12.18, applies nationwide, and took effect on 1 June 2026.
What changed
A new mandatory wage tariff (Heimarbeitstarif) now governs payment for homeworkers in plastic goods manufacturing and processing. Employers must calculate piece rates based on a minimum hourly wage of €12.18 and add a 10% homework supplement on top. Previously, these workers lacked a statutory minimum wage floor.
Who is affected
All employers (Auftraggeber) who hire homeworkers for plastic goods manufacture or processing anywhere in Austria must comply. Homeworkers themselves gain enforceable minimum wage protection and a statutory supplement for the costs and inconveniences of working from home.
Pay and benefits details
Piece-rate wages are calculated from €12.18 per hour. A separate 10% supplement (Heimarbeitszuschlag) must be paid on top. Holiday pay (Urlaubszuschuss) and Christmas bonus (Weihnachtsremuneration) each equal four weeks' wages, or 8% annually. All payments must be itemized separately on pay documents.
Scope and exceptions
The tariff applies to plastic goods manufacturing and processing work only, excluding work already covered by other homework collective agreements or tariffs. It covers the entire Austrian territory and binds all employers in this sector regardless of company size.