Starting next year, freelancers in Austria will receive stronger worker protections. They will be eligible for collective bargaining agreements, and new rules governing contract terminations will come into effect, the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs announced Monday. The goal is to make freelance contracts—and the circumvention of labor regulations—less attractive to employers.
“The many recent public cases have underscored the urgent need for action and the importance of minimum standards regarding working conditions, pay, and rights,” the ministry stated. By allowing employee-like freelancers to be included in collective agreements, it will be possible to establish those minimum standards. One recent case that sparked public debate was the food delivery service Lieferando’s announcement to dismiss its employed staff and shift them to freelance contracts.
4-Week Notice Period Planned
Under the new rules, which take effect in 2026, freelancers must be given a four-week notice period before contract termination. This increases to six weeks starting in the second year of employment. During the first month of a contract, a trial period may be agreed upon during which either party can end the relationship at any time. “These provisions cannot be waived or limited by the freelance agreement,” the ministry said. However, more favorable terms for freelancers are allowed. Either party will be able to terminate the contract on the 15th or at the end of any month.
“For the first time, employee-like freelancers can be covered by collective bargaining agreements. As of January 1, 2026, freelancers will benefit from better working conditions, regulated minimum compensation, and protection through clear termination rules,” said Labor Minister Korinna Schumann (SPÖ) in a press release.
The new rules apply only to contracts signed on or after January 1, 2026. Existing contracts with current termination terms will remain unaffected. Chamber of Labor President Renate Anderl called the reform a “major step toward fairer working conditions.” SPÖ officials Klaus Seltenheim and Josef Muchitsch also welcomed the move. However, Markus Petritsch, head of the transport workers’ union at vida, cautioned that “what matters most is how the reforms are actually implemented.”
