Austria’s electrical and electronics industry has published the fine print of its 2026 collective agreement, laying out a pay package that blends percentage increases with flat-rate payments and staggers shift premium hikes across three years.
The Fachverband der Elektro- und Elektronikindustrie (FEEI) released the full contract details on August 20, 2026, covering wage adjustments, employee bonuses, and revised rules for business travel. Formal negotiations had wrapped up at the end of May, and the new terms take effect retroactively.
How the Pay Rise Breaks Down
Workers on actual salaries and wages will see their pay climb from May 1, 2026, through a combination of a 1.85% percentage increase plus a flat €22 payment. Part-time staff receive that fixed amount on a pro-rata basis. Minimum wage and salary tiers, apprentice earnings, and travel expense allowances all rise by a uniform 3.0%. Across the board, average compensation increases land at 2.32%.
The agreement’s most distinctive feature concerns shift allowances, which follow a multi-year escalation path. Second-shift premiums move to €1.187 per hour from May 2026, then step up to €1.364 in May 2027 and €1.500 by May 2028. Third-shift and night-work rates climb to €3.832 this May and reach €4.000 a year later. All other allowances anchored in the collective contract increase by 3.0%.
Flexibility Clause for Strained Employers
Companies that already granted above-standard premium adjustments last year get a correction mechanism. Where shift-related allowances were raised by 3.0% in 2025, the increase from May 1, 2026, is reduced to 2.07%.
The deal also carves out a 0.35% “performance volume” component that businesses facing economic hardship may suspend entirely. The clause is designed to give employers breathing room during difficult market conditions without reopening the entire wage agreement.
Negotiating new pay terms is one thing, but keeping your workplace compliant while you do it is another. With shift premiums changing across multiple years, it’s easy for safety documentation to fall behind. A free toolkit with 41 ready-to-use templates helps you keep risk assessments current and legally sound. Download the free Risk Assessment Toolkit
New Social Provisions and Bonus Timeline
Beyond pay, the contract introduces several workplace benefits. Health days are now part of the package, with eligibility tied to both age and tenure. Employees qualify at 40 years of age with 20 years of service, with additional tiers for those aged 45 and 50. The agreement also establishes a care week for parents of disabled children and codifies a leisure-time option in the contract text.
On the bonus front, the FEEI confirmed that a separate collective agreement covering employee premiums for the period July 1 through December 31, 2026, is currently making its way through the signature process.
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