Clara Fritsch
The influence and power of the Austrian employees' organisations within the legislative process is declining. Since the change of government in 2000, this trend has accelerated. The goals and demands of the employees' organisations are increasingly disregarded, as is exemplified by the recently enacted law on the childcare allowance which has had a powerful impact on the Austrian labour market. First indications show that, in spite of the employees' organisations' efforts to regain ground, they have been unable to curb this trend.