corona / austria

Strabag closes all construction sites – Habau switches to short-time work

Article by Ulrike Knaus (adapted for holzkurier.com; translated by Eva Guzely) | 19.03.2020 - 09:11

As of 18 March, Austria’s biggest construction group Strabag closes its current 1,000 construction sites in Austria and registers its 11,000 employees at the AMS early warning system. Upper Austrian construction company Habau wants to continue doing urgent work for the ÖBB or Asfinag through short-time work.

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Strabag’s explanation is that the minimum distance between employees cannot be guaranteed. Furthermore, the supply of materials is very difficult and not ensured. “After carefully considering all interests, and most of all due to our responsibility towards society, we are forced to close all construction sites in Austria and take this drastic step,” said Strabag’s CEO Thomas Birtel in a press release.

Upper Austrian company Habau chose the new short-time work model introduced due to the coronavirus pandemic. “We will not dismiss a single employee in the commercial segment,” promised CEO Hubert Wetschnig. At Habau, 2,000 employees are affected.

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