’WPC Ÿė¶›Xķn.öršĀ‚‡Ä¾ąvŁĘüŅ%~×W»"VBO¾t$F¢;Ė=ķ “x ÷Ó’¬ÓƒĘLa8* š0:µ¬uM²˜«—SzŠõAǽe501ÓXXSł*‘š)ƒ+šęB!ŗj°”d&Ģś·nšÅI éz²*l_ryG;,'FŃŁŒ|čč*•!‹€«Ę.øuĆOUaŽŃ%I%ĆCĪVĪmūęAi8¾^¾źŽ¬­ōžiĻEĪč õY:B.īG‚ ¹Ÿ9+1@ŻÅm PL{Ą«e2Ań*/^š°d…¬†Øøš|­ExžÄ “©>BæcŌćµeÆÓ7üóļųjŪ\•B0 #ĮØUNi %· 0:½^ ÷w4* m,<C˜HP LaserJet 6P/6MP - Standard,ä,,,,,ä0&Öd9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(üœ$””ŌUSUS.,Ōęš6) ȃ)3|x ’U‹’ĄĄĄ labourfavourCESCRŻ ƒüœ!ŻŌUSUS.,ŌŻ  ŻŌ_Ōņ ņÓ  ÓÓ  ÓŌ‡¼F•»XXŌAUSTRIAŌ#†XP X»¼F•X#ŌŠ ° ŠÓLÓĢĢCESCR€€Ō_ŌE/1988/14Ō_ŌŌ_Ōó óŌ_ŌŠ Øų ŠĢņņ(Arts.€6€to€9)Š ˆ Ų ŠóóĢ23.€€The€Committee€considered€the€initial€report€of€Austria€concerning€rights€covered€by€articles€6Š h ø Što€9€of€the€International€Covenant€on€Economic,€Social€and€Cultural€Rights€(E/1984/6/Add.17)€atŠ X Ø Šits€3ņņrdóó€and€4ņņthóó€meetings,€held€on€9€February€1988€(E/C.12/1988/SR.3€and€4).Š H ˜  ŠĢ24.€€The€report€was€introduced€by€the€representative€of€the€State€Party,€who€explained€that,€inŠ (x  ŠAustria,€there€was€a€special€form€of€co„operation€between€workersšš€and€employersšš€organizations.€Š h  ŠSuch€organizations€formed€a€system€of€joint€social€enterprises€or€š šchambersšš€which,€together€withŠ X  Šthe€trade€unions€defending€the€interests€of€workers,€played€a€very€important€role€in€co„operationŠ ųH  Šbetween€the€countryššs€economic€forces€and€in€the€harmonization€of€measures€taken€under€theŠ č8 Šeconomic€and€social€policy€to€deal€with€any€problems€which€might€arise.Š Ų( ŠĢ25.€€He€stressed€that€the€principle€of€freedom€with€regard€to€work€and,€in€particular,€the€free€choiceŠ ø Šof€occupation€and€membership€of€a€trade€union€without€interference€on€the€part€of€the€State,€hadŠ Øų Šbeen€embodied€in€the€Austrian€Constitution.€€Nevertheless,€the€labour€market€authorities€grantedŠ ˜č Šassistance€to€private€bodies€and€institutions€set€up€to€provide€vocational€training€and€placementŠ ˆŲ Šservices.Š xČ ŠĢ26.€€He€went€on€to€give€recent€figures€for€unemployment€in€Austria,€where€the€number€ofŠ XØ Šunemployed€had€fallen,€from€January€1987€to€January€1988,€to€a€level€of€7.7€per€cent€of€theŠ H˜ Šworkforce.€€He€explained€that€the€unemployment€problem€seemed€really€to€be€one€of€regionalŠ 8ˆ Šdistribution€of€jobs,€since€the€number€of€jobs€available€in€Austria€in€1988€was€10.7€per€cent€higherŠ (x Šthan€in€1987.Š h ŠĢ27.€€He€also€referred€to€the€measures€provided€in€Austria€for€the€protection€of€workers€in€such€areasŠ ų H Šas€conditions€of€employment,€hygiene€and€safety,€social€security€and€sickness€insurance.€€In€thatŠ č!8 Šregard,€he€said€that€a€special€commission€had€been€formed€to€ensure€that€the€right€to€social€securityŠ Ų"(  Šwas€guaranteed€to€all€members€of€the€population.Š Č#! ŠĢņņGeneral€observationsóóŠ Ø%ų # ŠĢ28.€€Some€members€of€the€Committee€noted€that€the€report€did€not€contain€sufficient€detailsŠ ˆ'Ų"% Šregarding€the€implementation€of€the€first€articles€of€the€Covenant€concerning€the€principle€of€non„Š x(Č#& Šdiscrimination€in€measures€taken€to€guarantee€economic,€social€and€cultural€rights.€€They€expressedŠ h)ø$' Šthe€hope€that€more€complete€information€would€be€forthcoming€on€the€general€implementation€inŠ X*Ø%( ŠAustria€of€the€provisions€of€article€1,€paragraph€2,€and€article€9€taken€in€conjunction€with€article€3Š H+˜&) Šof€the€Covenant.€€They€asked,€among€other€things,€what€was€the€actual€situation€regarding€equalityŠ 8,ˆ'* Šbetween€men€and€women€with€regard€to€access€to€employment,€remuneration€and€retirementŠ (-x(+ Šconditions€and€what€was€the€significance€of€a€Constitutional€Court€decision€to€the€effect€thatŠ ° Šš šunequal€treatment€of€the€two€sexes€was€permissible€if€justified€by€the€nature€of€the€respective€sexššŠ  š Š(E/1984/6/Add.17,€para.€10).Š ą ŠĢ29.€€It€was€noted€that€the€report€referred€to€differences€in€the€way€Austrian€nationals€and€non„Š pĄ Šnationals€were€treated€with€regard€to€some€economic€rights€and€social€benefits€and€the€view€wasŠ ` ° Šexpressed€that€such€differences€of€treatment€in€a€highly€developed€country€like€Austria€appeared€toŠ P   Šrun€counter€to€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant.€€In€that€regard,€the€Committee€asked€whetherŠ @  Šmembers€of€minorities€living€in€Austria€wee€treated€like€other€Austrian€citizens,€exactly€whichŠ 0 € Šgroups€of€individuals€did€not€receive€social€security€benefits,€what€was€the€relationship€in€percentageŠ  p  Šterms€between€social€security€benefits€and€workersšš€incomes,€what€was€the€percentage€of€migrantŠ `  Šworkers€in€relation€to€the€Austrian€population€and€what€were€the€economic€and€social€rights€of€thoseŠ P  Šworkers,€as€well€as€the€rights€of€refugees€in€Austria.Š š@  ŠĢ30.€€The€Committee€also€asked€to€what€extent€the€rights€set€forth€in€articles€6€to€9€of€the€CovenantŠ Š  Šhad€been€the€subject€of€court€cases,€what€measures€had€been€taken€in€Austria€to€ensure€the€wideŠ Ą Šdistribution€of€the€text€of€the€Covenant,€whether€the€Governmentššs€report€had€been€prepared€withŠ ° Šthe€participation€of€non„governmental€organizations€and€distributed€throughout€the€country,€andŠ  š Šwhether€all€the€international€instruments€to€which€Austria€was€party€had€the€same€status€underŠ ą Šdomestic€law€as€the€Covenant.Š €Š ŠĢ31.€€With€regard€to€the€social€dialogue€existing€in€Austria,€further€details€were€requested€regardingŠ `° Šthe€role€of€the€State€in€areas€other€than€labour,€such€as€taxes,€housing,€education€and€health.Š P  ŠĢ32.€€In€his€reply,€the€representative,€referring€to€the€non„discrimination€clause€in€the€Covenant,€statedŠ 0€ Šthat€in€some€cases€there€was€positive€discrimination€in€favour€of€women,€who€were€not€allowed€toŠ  p Šwork€in€mines,€at€night€or€during€pregnancy,€or€who€were€entitled€to€retirement€at€an€age€lower€thanŠ ` Šthat€of€men;€in€other€cases,€especially€in€respect€of€access€to€employment€and€pay€in€privateŠ P Šenterprises,€discrimination€against€women€existed€in€his€country€as€a€matter€of€tradition,€which€wasŠ š@ Švery€hard€to€change.€€However,€an€Equal€Treatment€Commission€had€been€set€up€to€which€anyoneŠ ą0 Šmight€apply€if€they€believed€they€were€receiving€less€pay€than€others€for€comparable€work.Š Š  ŠĢ33.€€The€representative€also€stated€that€there€was€no€legal€provision€in€Austria€allowingŠ °"  Šdiscrimination€against€ethnic€minorities,€non„citizens€or€migrant€workers€to€accede€to€employment.€Š  #š! ŠDisadvantaged€people€and,€in€particular,€refugees,€enjoyed€social€welfare€benefits.Š $ą" ŠĢ34.€€In€addition,€the€representative€explained€that€his€Government€was€trying€to€formulateŠ p&Ą!$ Šfundamental€rights€in€a€new€instrument€and€that€it€was€the€intention€of€the€Austrian€authorities€toŠ `'°"% Šinclude€in€the€Constitution,€in€particular,€the€right€of€participation€in€a€social€insurance€scheme€andŠ P( #& Šthe€obligation€of€the€State€to€provide€adequate€institutions€for€the€purpose.€€That€right€would€beŠ @)$' Šjusticiable€since€anyone€excluded€could€appeal€to€the€courts€and€the€Government€would€be€preparedŠ 0*€%( Što€change€the€law€in€accordance€with€the€decision€of€the€Courts.€€He€explained€also€that€accordingŠ  +p&) Što€Austrian€law€an€international€convention€could€either€immediately€become€part€of€domestic€lawŠ ,`'* Šor€could€remain€an€international€obligation€and€be€implemented€by€internal€statutes.€€The€CovenantŠ -P(+ Šwas€not€directly€applicable€in€domestic€law€and€could€not€be€invoked€in€court€proceedings.€€AnŠ š-@), Šapplication€to€a€court€had€to€rely€on€a€specific€domestic€statute€and€not€on€the€Covenant.€€He€addedŠ ° Šthat€the€text€of€the€Covenant€was€available€in€German€and€it€had€been€published€in€the€OfficialŠ  š ŠGazette€and€that€no€consultation€outside€Government€circles€had€been€made€for€the€preparation€ofŠ ą Šhis€Governmentššs€report.Š €Š ŠĢ35.€€As€regards€the€role€of€the€State€in€relation€to€the€social€partnership,€the€representative€stated€thatŠ ` ° Šsocial€partners€had€complete€autonomy€in€negotiations€and€that€their€consensus€views€were€takenŠ P   Šinto€account€by€the€Government€in€its€policy.€€Taxation€matters€were€generally€dealt€with€by€otherŠ @  Šbodies,€such€as€co„operative€housing€associations.Š 0 € ŠĢņņArticle€6óó:€ņņRight€to€workóóŠ `  ŠĢ36.€€The€Committee€noted€that€the€Austrian€Bill€of€Rights€of€1867,€as€included€in€the€ConstitutionŠ š@  Šof€1867,€guaranteed€Austrian€citizens€the€right€to€free€choice€of€occupation€and€asked€whetherŠ ą0  ŠAustrian€law€specifically€recognized€the€right€of€work€as€defined€in€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant.€Š Š  ŠIt€also€asked€whether€dismissal€was€accepted€under€Austrian€law,€whether€dismissal€was€subject€toŠ Ą Šany€judicial€control,€whether€dismissed€workers€were€entitled€to€compensation€or€could€be€reinstatedŠ ° Šin€another€enterprise€in€the€event€of€unlawful€dismissal€and€whether€mass€dismissals€had€taken€placeŠ  š Šas€a€result€of€economic€restructuring.Š ą ŠĢ37.€€The€Committee€also€asked€for€details€on€the€planning€of€vocational€training€and€its€results,€onŠ pĄ Šthe€rate€of€unemployed€in€Austria,€particularly€long„term€unemployment€involving€loss€ofŠ `° Šentitlement€to€unemployment€benefits,€and€on€the€remedies€contemplated.€€It€also€asked€whether€theŠ P  Šright€to€compensation€for€loss€of€earnings€caused€by€insolvency,€as€provided€by€Austrian€law,Š @ Špreluded€the€payment€of€benefits€to€which€the€worker€was€entitled€in€the€event€of€unemployment.Š 0€ ŠĢ38.€€Replying€to€questions€of€the€members€of€the€Committee,€the€representative€of€Austria€stated€thatŠ ` Šin€the€Austrian€legal€order€the€right€to€work,€understood€as€a€right€to€a€job€or€a€specific€job,€was€notŠ P Šguaranteed:€€employment€opportunities€depended€on€the€economic€situation€and€the€authorities€couldŠ š@ Šonly€guarantee€the€right€to€receive€help€in€finding€a€job€and€in€overcoming€difficulties€relating€toŠ ą0 Šunemployment.€€Under€the€Austrian€system€of€private€labour€contracts,€a€contract€could€beŠ Š  Šdenounced€under€certain€conditions€and€within€a€given€time€limit,€not€exceeding€six€months.€Š Ą! ŠSometimes,€dismissal€of€a€group€of€employees€simultaneously€was€unavoidable.Š °"  ŠĢ39.€€The€representative€added€that€Austria€had€experienced€a€rise€in€unemployment€from€1980€butŠ $ą" Šthe€situation€was€beginning€to€improve€again.€€Unemployment€of€women€was€slightly€higher€thanŠ €%Š # Šunemployment€of€men.€€Long„term€unemployment€constituted€about€15€per€cent€of€the€totalŠ p&Ą!$ Šunemployment.€€According€to€a€recent€report€by€the€ages€of€19€and€24€had€decreased€betweenŠ `'°"% ŠJanuary€1987€and€January€1988€and€amounted€to€a€total€of€17.2€per€cent€of€the€total€unemployment.€Š P( #& ŠUnder€the€Insolvency„Compensation€Covering€Act,€workers€received€a€single€lump„sum€settlementŠ @)$' Šin€respect€of€any€unpaid€wages,€including€€the€period€of€notice€required€to€terminate€the€workŠ 0*€%( Šcontract.Š  +p&) ŠĢņņArticle€7óó:€ņņRight€to€just€and€Ō_ŌfavourableŌ_Ō€conditions€of€workóóŠ -P(+ ŠŠ š-@), Š40.€€It€was€noted€that€wages€and€remuneration€were€governed€by€the€Austrian€General€Civil€CodeŠ ° Šand€by€a€number€of€special€laws.€€The€Committee€wondered€whether€specific€legislation€regardingŠ  š Šconditions€of€work€and€the€right€to€work€existed€in€Austria€in€the€form€of€a€labour€code.€€TheŠ ą ŠCommittee€also€asked€what€were€the€effects€of€the€length€of€maternity€leave€on€efficiency€ofŠ €Š Šproduction€and€what€was€the€attitude€of€employers€in€that€regard,€whether€Austria€had€anyŠ pĄ Šmachinery€for€consultation€with€workers€on€the€minimum€€wage,€how€the€ILO€Equal€RemunerationŠ ` ° ŠConvention,€1951€(Convention€No.€100)€was€applied€in€Austria€and€what€measures€had€been€takenŠ P   Što€assure€all€workers€of€equitable€remuneration€geared€to€the€cost„of„living€index.Š @  ŠĢ41.€€In€his€reply,€the€representative€of€Austria€stated€that€in€his€country€there€were€numerous€statutesŠ  p  Šrelating€to€individual€sectors€of€the€labour€market,€but€there€was€no€unified€labour€code.€€He€alsoŠ `  Šstated€that€employers€in€Austria€were€not€enthusiastic€about€the€existing€maternity€leave€provisionsŠ P  Šwhich€remained,€nevertheless,€a€legal€obligation.€€He€added€that€there€were€no€formal€consultationsŠ š@  Šwith€workers€concerned€about€the€setting€of€minimum€wages€which€were€established€by€agreementŠ ą0  Šbetween€the€trade€union€and€the€employers.€€Such€an€agreement€was€valid€between€the€partiesŠ Š  Šconcerned€and€extended€to€non„trade€union€members€working€in€the€same€enterprise.€€Moreover,€theŠ Ą Štrade€union€federation€was€vigilant€on€the€question€of€fair€remuneration€and€wages€had€beenŠ ° Šincreasing€faster€than€the€cost€of€living€ever€since€the€Second€World€War.Š  š ŠĢņņArticle€8óó:€€ņņTrade€union€rightsóóŠ €Š ŠĢ42.€€The€members€of€the€Committee€asked€for€details€on€the€level€of€unionization€of€workers€inŠ `° ŠAustria.€€They€also€asked€what€was€the€spirit€of€the€regulations€on€the€right€to€strike€in€Austria€andŠ P  Šwhether€Austrian€courts€had€the€power€to€declare€a€strike€illegal€or€unjustified.€€It€was€noted€that,Š @ Šin€Austria,€a€worker€who€went€on€strike€was€considered€to€be€in€breach€of€the€labour€contract€andŠ 0€ Šheld€responsible€for€compensatory€payments.€€The€Committee€asked€whether€Austria€intended€toŠ  p Šenact€legislation€ensuring€observance€of€the€right€to€strike€referred€to€in€article€8,€paragraph€1€(d),Š ` Šof€the€Covenant.€€Some€members€of€the€Committee€pointed€out€that€the€ILO€Freedom€of€AssociationŠ P Šand€Protection€of€the€Right€to€Ō_ŌOrganiseŌ_Ō€Convention,€1948€(Convention€No.€87),€which€Austria€hadŠ š@ Šratified,€established€the€right€of€€workers€to€organize€and€to€bargain€collective,€and€that€the€right€toŠ ą0 Šstrike€provided€workers€with€a€means€of€defending€their€interests.€€They€also€asked€for€informationŠ Š  Šon€the€role€of€the€State€in€collective€agreements€and€on€the€content€of€such€agreements€and€on€theŠ Ą! Šreasons€why€Austria€had€not€ratified€the€ILO€Labour€Relations€(Public€Service)€Convention,€1978Š °"  Š(Convention€No.€151).Š  #š! ŠĢ43.€€In€his€reply,€the€representative€of€the€State€party€pointed€out€that€in€Austria€there€was€one€tradeŠ €%Š # Šunion€€federation€with€15€branch€unions€with€a€membership€of€approximately€1.5.€million€workers.€Š p&Ą!$ ŠHe€stated€that€€according€to€the€Austrian€theory€of€labour€law,€both€strikes€and€lock„outs€constitutedŠ `'°"% Šbreaches€of€the€work€contract;€however,€there€was€a€good€relationship€between€social€partners€inŠ P( #& ŠAustria€and€consequently€very€few€strikes.€€Workers€on€strike€were€not€subject€to€criminalŠ @)$' Šprosecution,€although€they€might€e€held€liable€for€damages€under€civil€law.€€However,€there€was€noŠ 0*€%( Šcase€law€on€the€issue€in€Austria.€€Public€employees€had€their€own€trade€unions€which€engaged€inŠ  +p&) Šnegotiations€with€the€competent€authorities€about€the€drafting€of€the€relevant€legislation€to€be€placedŠ ,`'* Šbefore€Parliament.€Š -P(+ ŠŠ š-@), ŠņņArticle€9óó:€ņņRight€to€social€securityóóŠ ° Š44.€€The€members€of€the€Committee€asked€whether€the€social€insurance€system€in€Austria€wasŠ  š Šsubsidized€by€the€State€or€whether€it€was€financed€solely€from€the€contributions€of€members€andŠ ą Šwhether€the€Austrian€Government€intended€to€implement€the€Ō_ŌprogrammeŌ_Ō€established€by€ILO€forŠ €Š Šdealing€with€occupational€diseases.€€It€was€noted€that€the€percentage€of€elderly€persons€in€AustriaŠ pĄ Šwas€very€high,€and€the€Committee€asked€what€measures€had€been€taken€to€ensure€a€decent€life€forŠ ` ° Špensioners;€whether€there€was€a€compulsory€retirement€age€and,€if€so,€was€the€age€fixed€the€sameŠ P   Šin€the€private€and€public€sectors;€whether€a€widower€whose€wife€had€worked€was€entitled€to€receiveŠ @  Ša€widowerššs€pension;€and€whether€pensioners€could€continue€to€work.€€The€Committee€also€askedŠ 0 € Šwhether€criminal€charges€could€be€brought€against€persons€who€failed€to€Ō_ŌhonourŌ_Ō€their€obligationsŠ  p  Šwith€regard€to€maintenance€payments€and€whether€the€State€assumed€partial€responsibility€for€theŠ `  Šmaintenance€in€question.Š P  ŠĢ45.€€The€representative€of€the€reporting€State€replied€that€in€Austria€the€State€subsidized€the€socialŠ ą0  Šsecurity€system€which€was€based€on€contributions€from€employers,€employees€and€the€State.€Š Š  ŠFurthermore,€discussions€were€in€progress€to€remodel€the€pension€scheme€in€order€to€safeguardŠ Ą Šfuture€pension€entitlements€in€view€of€the€increasing€proportion€of€elderly€people€in€the€AustrianŠ ° Špopulation.€€Under€the€existing€scheme€there€was€provision€for€widowsšš€and€orphansšš€pensions€andŠ  š Šwell€as€for€widowersšš€pensions.Š ą ŠĢ46.€€In€accordance€with€paragraph€9€of€Economic€and€Social€Council€decision€1981/158€of€8€MayŠ pĄ Š1981,€the€representative€of€ILO€informed€the€Committee€of€the€comments€made€by€the€CommitteeŠ `° Šof€Experts€on€the€application€of€ILO€conventions€and€recommendations€concerning€AustriaššsŠ P  Šimplementation€of€a€number€of€ILO€conventions€to€which€it€was€party€and€which€were€relevant€toŠ @ Šarticles€6€to€9€of€the€Covenant.€€He€also€informed€the€Committee€of€the€views€of€ILO€supervisoryŠ 0€ Šbodies€on€the€exercise€of€the€right€to€strike.Š  p ŠĢņņConcluding€observationsóóŠ P ŠĢ47.€€In€concluding€the€consideration€of€the€report,€the€Chairman€thanked€the€representative€of€AustriaŠ ą0 Šfor€answering€the€Committee€membersšš€questions€and€invited€him€to€convey€to€his€Government€theŠ Š  Šconcerns€expressed€by€them€during€the€debate.€€These€included,€in€particular,€the€question€of€theŠ Ą! Šstatus€of€the€right€to€strike€under€Austrian€law.€€He€stated€that€it€would€by€extremely€useful€to€theŠ °"  ŠCommittee€to€receive€more€detailed€information€on€certain€questions€relating€to€the€implementationŠ  #š! Šof€the€Covenant€in€Austria€which€could€be€provided€by€the€Government€either€in€its€next€periodicŠ $ą" Šreport€or€in€a€brief€supplementary€report.€€In€this€regard€particular€mention€was€made€of€the€issue€ofŠ €%Š # Šnon„discrimination€in€the€enjoyment€of€social€benefits.Š p&Ą!$ ŠĢ48.€€In€the€course€of€the€adoption€of€the€present€summary€it€was€noted€that€there€appears€to€be€anŠ P( #& Šimbalance€in€the€extent€and€nature€of€the€concluding€observations€made€with€respect€to€the€reportŠ @)$' Šof€Austria€compared€to€those€made€with€respect€to€the€reports€of€some€other€States€considered€at€thisŠ 0*€%( Šsession.€€It€was€explained€that€this€was€attributable€not€to€the€particular€details€of€the€report€ofŠ  +p&) ŠAustria€and€of€its€presentation€but€to€the€relative€newness€of€the€procedures€adopted€by€theŠ ,`'* ŠCommittee€in€making€concluding€observations.Š -P(+ ŠŠ š-@), Šņņ(Arts.€13„14)óóŠ ° ŠĢ49.€€The€Committee€considered€the€initial€report€of€Austria€on€the€rights€referred€to€in€articles€13€toŠ ą Š15€of€the€International€Covenant€of€Economic,€Social€and€Cultural€Rights€(E/1982/3/Add.37)€at€itsŠ €Š Šthird€meeting,€on€9€February€1988€(E/C.12/1988/SR.3).Š pĄ ŠĢ50.€€In€introducing€the€report,€the€representative€of€the€State€party€said€that,€in€Austria,€education€wasŠ P   Šcompulsory€up€to€the€age€of€15€and€that€higher€education€and€participation€in€cultural€life€wereŠ @  Šaccessible€to€all.€€He€also€explained€that€the€State€recognized€the€freedom€of€scientific€work,€art€andŠ 0 € Šresearch€and€promoted€cultural€activities€by,€among€other€things,€granting€subsidies.Š  p  ŠĢņņArticles€13€and€14óó:€ņņRight€to€educationóóŠ P  ŠĢ51.€€The€Committee€asked€for€further€details€on€the€three€types€of€education€in€Austria€and,€on€aŠ ą0  Šmore€general€level,€whether€a€new€illiteracy€existed€and€was€increasing€in€Austria€as€in€otherŠ Š  Šdeveloped€countries,€and,€if€so,€what€remedies€were€envisaged.Š Ą ŠĢ52.€€The€Committee€also€asked€about€Austriaššs€policy€with€regard€to€the€education€of€the€childrenŠ  š Šof€migrant€workers€and,€in€particular,€whether€it€Ō_ŌendeavouredŌ_Ō€to€integrate€such€children€into€theŠ ą ŠAustrian€school€population€or€whether€it€provided€special€classes€or€schools€for€them,€withŠ €Š Šinstruction€in€their€mother€tongue.€€The€Committee€also€asked€about€the€respective€areas€ofŠ pĄ Šcompetence€of€the€State€authorities€and€the€ņņŌ_ŌLnderŌ_Ōóó€authorities€with€regard€to€educational€legislation;Š `° Šabout€the€effect€of€the€concordat€between€the€Holy€See€and€the€Austrian€Government€on€education;Š P  Šabout€the€arrangements€for€the€separation€of€Church€and€State€and€the€consequent€legal€restrictionsŠ @ Šon€religious€education€in€Austria;€about€the€proportion€of€public€education€establishments€comparedŠ 0€ Što€private€education€establishments€in€Austria;€whether€the€latter€were€on€the€increase;€and€whetherŠ  p Šthe€debate€on€public€and€private€education€was€a€political€issue.Š ` ŠĢ53.€€In€addition,€the€members€of€the€Committee€asked€for€further€details€on€the€type€of€educationŠ š@ Šprovided€to€adults€by€the€Confederation€of€Austrian€Trade€Unions.€€They€also€asked€what€was€theŠ ą0 Špercentage€of€women€students€or€teachers€in€higher€education,€from€what€age€education€wasŠ Š  Šcompulsory,€whether€pre„school€and€private€education€were€free,€how€many€scholarships€theŠ Ą! ŠAustrian€Government€had€awarded€in€recent€years,€whether€human€rights€were€taught€in€primary€andŠ °"  Šsecondary€schools€and€what€proportion€of€students€completed€further€education€studies.€€TheŠ  #š! ŠCommittee€also€asked€whether€higher€education€by€correspondence€existed€in€Austria,€whether€thoseŠ $ą" Šwho€took€courses€at€home€subsequently€had€the€same€opportunities€as€others,€what€steps€were€takenŠ €%Š # Što€enable€disabled€persons€to€exercise€fully€their€right€to€education€and€whether€vocational€educationŠ p&Ą!$ Šin€the€creative€arts€was€well„developed.Š `'°"% ŠĢ54.€€In€response€to€these€questions,€the€representative€of€Austria€said€that€research€was€beingŠ @)$' Šconducted€into€the€question€of€the€new€illiteracy€and€he€referred€to€a€diagram€to€provideŠ 0*€%( Šclarifications€on€the€national€system€of€education.Š  +p&) ŠĢ55.€€The€children€of€migrant€workers€attended€the€same€schools€as€Austrian€children,€in€addition€toŠ -P(+ Šspecial€courses€in€German€and€in€their€own€language,€particularly€in€schools€where€such€childrenŠ š-@), Šaccounted€for€a€given€minimum€proportion€of€the€student€body.Š ° ŠĢ56.€€He€went€on€to€explain€that,€in€Austria,€legislation€on€methods€of€education€and€school€curriculaŠ ą Šwere€matters€for€the€Federal€authorities,€but€that€the€respective€areas€of€competence€of€the€FederalŠ €Š Šand€ņņŌ_ŌLnderŌ_Ōóó€authorities€in€regard€to€education€were€quite€separate,€although€still€open€to€modification.€Š pĄ ŠThe€1934€concordat€between€the€Holy€See€and€the€Austrian€State€accorded€the€Catholic€Church€theŠ ` ° Šright€to€provide€catholic€religious€instruction€in€schools€for€children€of€that€faith.€€Private€educationŠ P   Šplayed€a€very€small€role€in€national€education,€and€there€were€no€private€universities€in€Austria.Š @  ŠĢ57.€€He€further€explained€that€the€Confederation€of€Austrian€Trade€Unions€offered€vocationalŠ  p  Štraining,€that€the€countryššs€twelve€universities€were€attended€by€162,000€students,€of€whom€70,000Š `  Šwere€women,€that€there€were€no€fees€for€admission€to€primary,€secondary€or€higher€educationŠ P  Šinstitutions,€that€textbooks€were€provided€free€of€charge€and€that€there€was€a€wide€range€ofŠ š@  Šscholarships,€travel€allowances€and€special€study€assistance.€€Furthermore,€education€at€home€wasŠ ą0  Šnot€common€in€Austria;€every€child€was€obliged€to€take€the€examinations€organized€by€publicŠ Š  Šschools€and€artistic€training€was€provided€by€six€university„level€schools€whose€student€bodiesŠ Ą Šincluded€many€non„nationals.Š ° ŠĢņņArticle€15óó:€ņņRight€to€take€part€in€cultural€life€and€to€enjoy€the€benefits€of€scientific€progress,€andŠ ą Šprotection€of€the€interests€of€authorsóóŠ €Š ŠĢ58.€€The€members€of€the€Committee€asked€who€was€responsible€for€education€and€cultural€policyŠ `° Šin€Austria€and€what€was€the€educational€and€cultural€philosophy;€how€scientific€research€wasŠ P  Šorganized€and€what€measures€had€been€taken€by€the€Austrian€Government€to€promote€internationalŠ @ Šcultural€co„operation,€in€particular€with€developing€countries.€€They€also€asked€whether€the€AustrianŠ 0€ Šcourts€had€to€deal€with€many€disputes€over€literary€and€artistic€property,€whether€the€elderly€wereŠ  p Špermitted€to€attend€cultural€activities€at€reduced€prices€and€what€systems€of€subsidies€existed€inŠ ` ŠAustria€to€enable€persons€with€limited€means€to€have€access€to€high€quality€cultural€activities.Š P ŠĢ59.€€The€representative€of€Austria€replied€that€the€Austrian€Parliament€had€the€last€word€inŠ ą0 Šformulating€national€education€policy€and€that€all€parliamentary€decisions€on€that€matter€had€to€beŠ Š  Štaken€by€a€two„thirds€majority.€€Radio€and€television€broadcasting€in€Austria€was€the€preserve€of€aŠ Ą! Šmonopoly€which€was€supervised€by€a€body€of€representatives€of€the€various€sectors€of€public€life.€Š °"  ŠScientific€research€was€conducted€mostly€in€universities€and€also€in€a€number€of€private„sectorŠ  #š! Šenterprises€and€received€either€State€or€private€subsidies.Š $ą" ŠĢ60.€€Austria€participated€in€international€cultural€co„operation€through€artistic€events€and€byŠ p&Ą!$ Šaccepting€many€foreign€students€in€its€universities.€€With€regard€to€the€protection€of€intellectualŠ `'°"% Šproperty,€Austria€had€a€type€of€conciliation€procedure€which€authors€and€artists€could€availŠ P( #& Šthemselves€of€if€they€considered€their€rights€to€have€been€infringed,€but€few€such€cases€had€beenŠ @)$' Šbrought€before€the€courts.€€Moreover,€the€fact€that€important€cultural€events€were€subsidized€byŠ 0*€%( Šindustrial€concerns€meant€that€admission€prices€could€be€lowered€in€order€to€make€them€accessibleŠ  +p&) Što€a€large€number€of€people.Š ,`'* ŠĢņņConcluding€observationsóóŠ š-@), Ї61.€€Following€the€consideration€of€the€report,€the€Chairman€thanked€the€representative€of€AustriaŠ ° Šfor€the€highly€useful€information€which€he€had€provided.Š   š Šņ ņCESCR€E/1995/22ó óŠ ° ŠĢĢ243.€€At€its€39th,€40th€and€41st€meetings€on€28€and€29€November,€the€Committee€considered€theŠ €Š Šsecond€periodic€report€of€Austria€concerning€the€rights€covered€by€articles€6€to€9€and€13€to€15€of€theŠ pĄ ŠCovenant€(E/1990/6/Add.5),€together€with€the€written€replies€to€the€supplementary€questions€raisedŠ ` ° Šby€the€pre-sessional€Working€Group,€and,€at€its€52nd€meeting€on€7€December€1994,€approved€theŠ P   Šfollowing€concluding€observations.Š @  ŠĢA.€ņņIntroductionóóŠ  p  ŠĢ244.€€The€Committee€expresses€its€satisfaction€to€the€State€party€with€the€detailed€report€submittedŠ P  Šand€the€supplementary€information€provided€in€writing,€and€also€with€the€constructive€dialogueŠ š@  Šconducted€between€its€members€and€the€Austrian€delegation.Š ą0  ŠĢ245.€€The€Committee€greatly€appreciates€the€Austrian€delegation's€frank,€detailed€replies€to€all€itsŠ Ą Šquestions,€which€enabled€it€to€gain€an€overall€idea€of€the€way€in€which€Austria€is€discharging€itsŠ ° Šobligations€under€the€Covenant.Š  š ŠĢB.€ņņPositive€aspectsóóŠ €Š ŠĢ246.€€The€Committee€welcomes€the€efforts€made€by€the€Austrian€Government€to€create€theŠ `° Šconditions€necessary€for€the€exercise€of€the€rights€recognized€under€the€Covenant.€It€notes€withŠ P  Šsatisfaction€the€adoption€of€legislative€measures€guaranteeing€non-discrimination€against€women,Š @ Šin€particular€Act€No.€833/1992€amending€the€Equal€Treatment€Act€of€1979,€which€addresses€theŠ 0€ Šproblem€of€sex-based€discrimination€in€the€workplace,€and€the€Federal€Act€on€the€Equal€TreatmentŠ  p Šof€Women€and€Men€and€the€Advancement€of€Women€in€the€Federal€Service€of€1993,€as€amendedŠ ` Šin€1994,€which€guarantees€equal€treatment€for€women€and€men€employed€by€the€federalŠ P ŠAdministration.€The€Committee€notes€the€establishment,€at€the€federal€level,€of€the€Equal€TreatmentŠ š@ ŠCommission€and€the€creation€of€the€post€of€Equal€Treatment€Advocate.Š ą0 ŠĢ247.€€The€Committee€takes€note€of€the€efforts€made€by€the€Austrian€Government,€notably€in€the€fieldŠ Ą! Šof€education,€to€integrate€foreign€workers€and€their€families.€The€Committee€also€notes€theŠ °"  Šestablishment€of€a€fund€for€the€integration€of€migrants,€and€also€the€measures€taken€to€combatŠ  #š! Šxenophobia€and€promote€tolerance.Š $ą" ŠĢ248.€€The€Committee€takes€note€of€initiatives€aimed€at€combating€unemployment€and€the€adverseŠ p&Ą!$ Šeffects€of€the€restructuring€of€large€companies,€in€particular€the€establishment€of€labour€foundations.Š `'°"% ŠĢ249.€€The€Committee€expresses€its€satisfaction€with€the€range€and€quality€of€the€services€providedŠ @)$' Što€the€population€as€a€whole,€and€notably€social€benefits€for€elderly€persons€and€the€disabled.Š 0*€%( ŠĢ250.€€The€Committee€notes€with€interest€the€efforts€made€in€the€field€of€vocational€training€and€theŠ ,`'* Šwide€spectrum€of€educational€opportunities€available€after€compulsory€education€has€beenŠ -P(+ Šcompleted.€It€takes€note€of€the€scope€of€the€continuing€education€system,€which€enables€adultsŠ š-@), Šsteadily€to€expand€their€knowledge.Š ° Š251.€€The€Committee€notes€with€satisfaction€the€measures€taken€by€the€State€party€to€ensure€theŠ  š Šprotection€of€the€various€ethnic€minorities€and€to€guarantee€them€the€right€both€to€be€educated€inŠ ą Štheir€mother€tongue€and€to€preserve€and€maintain€their€cultural€identity.€In€this€regard,€theŠ €Š ŠCommittee€welcomes€the€recognition€of€the€Rom€minority€as€a€national€minority,€and€notes€withŠ pĄ Šsatisfaction€the€allocation€of€subsidies€for€the€promotion€of€the€cultural€activities€of€minorities,€andŠ ` ° Šthe€establishment€within€the€Federal€Chancellery€of€Advisory€Boards€on€Ethnic€Minorities.Š P   ŠĢC.€ņņPrincipal€subjects€of€concernóóŠ 0 € ŠĢ252.€€The€Committee€notes€that€the€provisions€of€the€universal€human€rights€instruments,€theŠ `  ŠCovenant€among€them,€cannot€be€directly€invoked€before€the€Austrian€courts,€unlike€the€EuropeanŠ P  ŠConvention€for€the€Protection€of€Human€Rights€and€Fundamental€Freedoms,€which€has€beenŠ š@  Šincorporated€into€domestic€legislation€and€has€the€force€of€constitutional€law.€€Although€the€AustrianŠ ą0  Šdelegation€has€stated€that€its€national€legislation€is€consistent€with€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant,Š Š  Šthe€Committee€nevertheless€expresses€its€concern€that,€in€the€event€of€a€conflict€between€theŠ Ą Šprovisions€of€the€Covenant€and€those€of€domestic€legislation,€the€international€obligations€enteredŠ ° Šinto€under€the€Covenant€may€not€be€fulfilled.Š  š ŠĢ253.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€about€the€possible€adverse€consequences,€for€the€implementationŠ €Š Šof€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant€concerning€non-discrimination,€of€the€regulations€relating€to€theŠ pĄ Šnew€law€on€residence€and€residence€permits,€whose€purpose€is€to€limit€the€number€of€foreignersŠ `° Šauthorized€to€work€in€Austria,€and€the€conditions€laid€down€-€particularly€in€the€area€of€housing€-€forŠ P  Šthe€acquisition€of€an€Austrian€residence€permit.Š @ ŠĢ254.€€The€Committee€points€out€that€the€ILO€Committee€of€Experts€on€the€Application€ofŠ  p ŠConventions€and€Recommendations,€in€its€1994€report€to€the€International€Labour€Conference,Š ` Šexpressed€its€concern€at€the€persistence€of€inequalities€in€the€remuneration€of€women€as€comparedŠ P Šwith€men,€especially€in€the€private€sector.€In€this€context,€the€Committee€notes€that,€despite€theŠ š@ Šconsiderable€legislative€efforts€made€by€the€State€party€to€ensure€equality€between€the€sexes,Š ą0 Šinequality€persists€in€practice,€particularly€in€the€matter€of€promotion,€and€sometimes€in€theŠ Š  Šprovision€of€social€benefits.€Š Ą! ŠĢ255.€€The€Committee€observes€that€standards€for€the€protection€of€workers€concerning€limits€on€theŠ  #š! Šduration€of€the€working€day€and€weekly€rest€are€not€always€fully€met€because€some€areas€of€theŠ $ą" Šprivate€sector€are€dilatory€in€enforcing€the€relevant€legislation.Š €%Š # ŠĢ256.€€The€Committee€is€also€concerned€that€workers€in€small€businesses€(with€five€or€fewerŠ `'°"% Šemployees)€seem€not€to€enjoy€adequate€protection€against€the€threat€of€dismissal€or€termination€onŠ P( #& Šthe€grounds€of€trade€union€activities.€Similarly,€the€Committee€considers€that€the€representation€ofŠ @)$' Šworkers€on€works€councils€is€not€sufficient€to€ensure€a€balance€of€interests.€Š 0*€%( ŠĢD.€ņņSuggestions€and€recommendationsŠ ,`'* ŠóóĢ257.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€should€envisage€taking€the€measuresŠ š-@), Šnecessary€to€place€on€an€equal€footing€the€international€human€rights€instruments,€in€particular€theŠ ° ŠCovenant,€and€the€European€Convention€for€the€Protection€of€Human€Rights€and€FundamentalŠ  š ŠFreedoms€as€regards€the€place€they€occupy€in€the€domestic€legal€order.Š ą ŠĢ258.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€Austrian€authorities€should€continue€their€efforts€toŠ pĄ Šensure€de€facto€equality€between€men€and€women,€especially€in€the€areas€of€access€to€employment,Š ` ° Šremuneration€for€equal€work,€working€conditions,€the€right€to€social€security€and€participation€inŠ P   Šhigher€education.Š @  ŠĢ259.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€Austrian€Government€should€take€the€necessary€measuresŠ  p  Što€ensure€that€the€implementation€of€the€new€immigration€and€residence€laws€will€not€impede€theŠ `  Šexercise,€by€non-nationals,€of€the€rights€set€out€in€the€Covenant.Š P  ŠĢ260.€€The€Committee€urges€the€State€party€to€monitor€carefully€the€possible€effects€of€unemploymentŠ ą0  Šand€reduced€social€welfare€services€on€the€realization€of€economic,€social€and€cultural€rights,€inŠ Š  Šparticular€for€the€most€vulnerable€groups€in€society,€and€to€take€the€necessary€measures€to€mitigateŠ Ą Štheir€adverse€repercussions.Š ° ŠĢ261.€€Taking€account€of€the€observations€made€by€the€ILO€Committee€of€Experts€on€the€ApplicationŠ ą Šof€Conventions€and€Recommendations,€in€its€1994€report,€concerning€work€done€by€detainees€withinŠ €Š Šprisons€for€private€businesses,€the€Committee€endorses€the€recommendations€addressed€to€theŠ pĄ ŠGovernment€of€Austria€encouraging€it€to€take€measures€to€improve€the€level€of€remuneration€andŠ `° Šsocial€welfare€of€such€detainees.Š P  ŠĢ262.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€should€continue€its€efforts€to€ensure€theŠ 0€ Šexercise€of€all€the€rights€recognized€in€article€8€of€the€Covenant,€in€particular€for€workers€employedŠ  p Šin€small€businesses.€Š ` ŠĢ263.€€The€Committee€deems€it€essential€that€the€State€party€should€maintain€a€dialogue€with€civilŠ š@ Šsociety€in€the€preparation€of€reports€to€the€Committee€and€should€disseminate€them€as€widely€asŠ ą0 Špossible.Š Š  ŠĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢ