New Women's Advancement Plan (Frauenförderungsplan) for Austria's BMWET takes effect September 2026
The Federal Ministry of Economics, Energy and Tourism (BMWET) has issued a new Women's Advancement Plan (Frauenförderungsplan) under BGBl. II No. 263/2026, replacing its predecessor ministry's 2023 plan (BGBl. II No. 226/2023), effective 3 September 2026. The regulation creates binding obligations for managers and the HR department and establishes concrete rights for all ministry employees.
What changed
The new plan replaces the former Federal Ministry of Labour and Economics plan (BGBl. II No. 226/2023) and adapts it to the renamed BMWET. It sets a target of raising the share of women to 50% in all pay and grade groups, all leadership positions, and all committees and advisory boards.
Who is affected
All civil servants and contract staff of the BMWET and its subordinate or assigned offices that do not have their own plan are covered. Managers bear specific obligations to implement the measures; violations of the regulation are sanctioned under civil service disciplinary law.
Key rights and obligations
Employees with children under age 10 are entitled to a childcare subsidy within the available budget. Managers must actively support women's career development and report selection-procedure outcomes to the chair of the Equal Treatment Working Group. Before a return from parental leave, employees must be invited to a re-entry meeting at least four weeks in advance.
What to look out for
HR departments must submit an annual activity report to the Equal Treatment Working Group chair by 31 March each year. By the same deadline, training-participation statistics broken down by gender and pay/grade group for each individual training event must also be provided.