ÖGK chairman Andreas Huss, representing the employee side, has rejected the Chamber of Commerce’s demand for stricter sick leave checks. “To suspect all employees across the board is completely unacceptable,” Huss said Sunday on ORF’s ZIB13. The “impossible demands” of the WKÖ were “not understandable,” he added. Sick leave is already monitored on an ongoing basis, Huss stressed.
WKÖ Secretary General Jochen Danninger (ÖVP) recently called for “reporting requirements and controls” with nationwide standardized checks, “mandatory checks in cases of suspicion,” and generally stricter reviews by the health insurance fund. The aim is to curb “damage in the billions.” Danninger said: “Those who are sick should recover in peace, but those who just extend their weekend are enriching themselves at everyone’s expense.”
Since July 1, the chairmanship of the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK) has again been held by the employee side. Their representative Andreas Huss (SPÖ) succeeded Peter McDonald, who held the position in the first half of the year as employer representative. The appointments in self-administration are made through the chambers of labor and commerce.
