Grants to Employers for Continued Payment of Wages during Major Damage/Mountain Rescue Operations - KTN

Companies in Carinthia can breathe a sigh of relief: Since September 1, 2019, the state of Carinthia has reimbursed in full those continued wage payments through the Disaster Fund that arise when employees serve as voluntary members of recognized emergency organizations during major damage events or mountain rescue operations on official duty. This funding aims to offset the financial expenses incurred when workers are continuously deployed for at least eight hours and are therefore unable to perform their regular duties. The measure is unlimited in duration and covers all continued wage payments, with no budget ceiling set. Applying employers receive a 100% funding rate – thus avoiding liquidity bottlenecks or special burdens on their own funds.

A prerequisite for granting a subsidy is that the Public Employment Service (AMS) is not affected, the employees are subject to an Austrian labor law framework, are not employed predominantly in a municipal-owned enterprise, and are members of a recognized emergency organization. Furthermore, the deployment must have occurred as a result of a major damage event or a mountain rescue operation and must have lasted continuously for eight hours. The straightforward application process is conducted directly at the Office of the Carinthian State Government, Department 3 – Municipalities and Disaster Protection. This instrument supports both employers and emergency organizations equally and sustainably ensures operational readiness in disaster protection and mountain rescue operations in Carinthia.