Good Practises in the Area of
Cooperation with Stakeholders
Equinet Training Budapest
Cornelia Amon-Konrath, Ombud for Equal Treatment, Austria
Mandate
• Grounds covered
 Gender and Ethnic Origin (both in the field of
employment and occupation and with regard to goods
and services, including housing)
 Religion or Belief, Age, Sexual Orientation (only with
regard to employment and occupation)
• Main Tasks
 giving advice and support to persons who feel
discriminated against
 carrying out independent investigations, publishing
independent reports and recommendations
Special Focus
• Every 2 years
 events, trainings, publications, media related work,
cooperation with stakeholders, ….
• Currently
 „Gleichbehandlung Unternehmen“
= working together with employers and service
providers to prevent discrimination
 Before: Multiple discrimination; (Sexual) Harassment
Questions in Preparation
• What are we aiming for?
• What is the Ombud´s „unique selling point“?
• Who are the stakeholders in these areas?
How can they be identified? How can we start
a cooperation?
Interesting Cooperations I
The Public Employment Service
• Business Service Department (BSD)
 The BSD provided 2015 assistance for 68.500 enterprises with 457.000 job
vacancies
 Its task is to place job announcements but also to assist in recruitment
processes, esp. narrowing down applicants thus assisting enterprises to find
employees
 Ombud provides training for the BSD to assist with a discrimination free
recruitment process
 In cooperation with the BSD, HR Manager take part in trainings as well
 Topics eg.: requirements for language skills, wearing headscarfs, ….
Interesting Cooperations II
The Public Employment Service
• Service for Job Seekers
 Assisted appr. 549,000 registered unemployed
respectively apprenticeship seekers in 2015 in finding
employment
Ombud provides training on certain topics for key players
within the Public Employment Service
• Public Employment Service providing funds
 Question on privileged treatment of refugees (asylum
granted) – positive action or discrimination?
Interesting Cooperations III
• Identifying Stakeholders – Enterprises
• Vienna University of Economics and Business
Development
 Upcoming Event on Diversity:
Aim: talking about best practise, targeting
enterprises
• ÖBB (Austrian Rail Service); REWE
 Preventing discrimination; trying to identify possible
discriminatory practises
Interesting Cooperations IV
• Identifying Stakeholders – Legal
system
 Providing training for lay judges
 Discussing discrimination with judges
- high court; informal meetings
- seminars for judges
Interesting Cooperations V
• Identifying Stakeholders– Service
Providers
 Providing knowledge as a part in a training course for
security guards – response to discriminatory door policies
 Providing information:
 „refugee rights“ – relevant NGOs
 Elected representatives in identified communities – prohibition of
burkinis in public baths
 Chamber of Commerce: recommendations to be spread among
members
Interesting Cooperations V
• Long standing cooperations:
 Trade Unions, NGOs,…
 Jour Fixe
 Providing training for work council members
For more information please visit:
www.gleichbehandlungsanwaltschaft.at
Thank you!