Topic: Teaching English
By SIlvia McDonald
If English is your native language and you would like to work with
people of different interests, ages, and backgrounds, teaching
English may be a possibility for you. There is always a demand for
qualified teachers of English; however, there is an equally large
supply of individuals who are already teaching English or would like
to begin. Many are just passing through or biding time during their
studies or stay here in Austria, so if you are here for a longer
term, you will have an advantage.
Citizens of the United Kingdom and Ireland will find it easier to get
teaching positions throughout the EU due to their right to live &
work in any EU Member Country. Americans and other Native English
Speakers will have a harder time because of the reams of paperwork
necessary to make them legal. Does that mean that Americans or
Australian can't work in Paris? No, but it means that they will
certainly have to work harder to do it legally.
Qualifications
Remember, just because you can speak the language doesn't mean you
can teach it.
"Qualified" does not always mean an individual has been
trained as a foreign language teacher, or teacher of "English as
a Second Language. The number of established language schools is
expanding, and many are now emphasizing specific skills and subject
areas such as management and business in English. Having a degree or
experience in these fields is a distinct advantage here.
German
language skills can be most useful for "opening doors,"
and makes it easier to start. However, not knowing German is not
always a handicap as same language schools and institutes have their
own methods to train their teachers.
Training
and Certification
TEFL or TESOL certifications may still give you an added edge and for
those without the professional qualifications a good starting point.
It is important to realize that "TEFL certificate" is a
generic term and that many different TEFL certificate programs are
now available.
The other reason to consider a course is simply to gain skill in the
classroom. Many schools throw you in without any training or
guidance. Ideally, a TEFL course will give you some of the tools
you'll need to be effective as a teacher, which may be comforting
when you're staring down a roomful of eager students.
Work
Permit?
A work permit to teach or tutor English is not required in Austria if
you are self-employed.
Licensing
You do not need a license (Gewerbeschein) to tutor or teach.
There is however a license (Gewerbeschein) required if you wish to
form classes of 5 students or more.
It is Freies Gewerbe* and the official title is: Organisation von Schulungsveranstaltungen
This means that the exact wording of the business designation is
not prescribed by law but can be formulated individually by the applicant.
Freelancer
or Employee?
If you are freelancing and have a work contract (Werkvertrag) with a
firm, however, it is important to distinguish whether you are truly
self-employed or whether you are an employee of the firm.
The most important issue legally is how dependent you are on the firm.
If you are required to work on days and times specified by the firm
and/or the firm provides you with materials necessary to do your job,
you would probably be considered to be an employee. In such cases you
must obtain a work permit, unless you are an EU national. Also, you
and your employer must make social insurance contributions if your
monthly income is greater than EUR 333,16 (as of 2006)
If you are independent of the firm with respect to working times and
materials you are probably self-employed. The key to the self-employed/employee
classification lies in the wording of the work contract itself, not
in the type of work done. You should seek confirmation from the
Department of Labour Law at the Bundesarbeitskammer or the
appropriate Arbeitsmarktservice office in order to be certain about
your status.
Please note: Independent contractors have reduced
protection under labor law. The regulations of general civil law
[Allgemein Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (ABGB)] take precedence in
employer-employee relationships in the case of independent contractors.
In the absence of a specific agreement between an employer and an
independent contractor, the regulations of employee law, the Vacation
Act, the Working-Hours Act (in particular concerning added payment
for overtime hours), required break time, and rights of continued
payment do not apply.
Consequently, independent contractors are not protected by laws
and regulations on collective bargaining agreement wages, required
additional payments (Sonderzahlung), severance pay (Abfertigung),
paid vacation, being on stand-by, nor against dismissal.
Insurance
and Pension:
It possible to get individual health insurance with a regional
Krankenkasse if you are self-employed. Details on health insurance
including the extent of benefits provided can be obtained from:
Wiener Gebietskrankenkasse
Wienerbergstraße 15-19
Tel. 60 12 20
Homepage: http://www.wgkk.at
Minimum
Income Work
Minimum income workers are considered those employees whose annual
income does not exceed the monthly amount of, at present 349.01 euro
(as of 2008).
With the exception of the regulation in the Employee Act about giving
notice, the same regulations apply to minimum income workers
pertaining to labour as for all other employees. Minimum income
workers have, for example, the right to five and/or six weeks of paid
vacation per work year, as well as the right to stay for a sick child
[Pflegefreistellung]. If the employer-employee relationship lasts at
least three years, then the minimum income workers are also entitled
to severance pay [Abfertigung] under same conditions as all other employees.
Please note: Depending on which collective bargaining agreement is
applied, minimum income workers have the right to other additional
payments such as paid vacation and a Christmas bonus.
Social Insurance (Minimum Income Work)
Minimum income workers are covered by accident insurance. The
employer is required to enrol them with the responsible district
health insurance fund [Gebietskrankenkasse] . .
It is recommended that minimum income workers voluntarily obtain
health insurance [Krankenversicherung] and pension insurance
[Pensionsversicherung]. The application for optional insurance is
must be submitted to the responsible district health insurance fund
[Gebietskrankenkasse] . . For the year 2008, the worker must deposit
a monthly contribution of 49.25 euro. The health insurance coverage
begins the day following the filing of an application.
-
If you have more than one job below the monthly minimum limit and
earn more than the current (2007) minimum of 349.01 euro per month in
all those jobs together, you must be insured for health
[Krankenversicherung] and pension insurance [Pensionsversicherung]
and have to pay based on the entire sum of your part-time incomes.
Thus, a minimum income worker receives full coverage of health insurance.
-
If you have a minimum income job in addition to employment where
you are fully insured, you are still obligated to contribute to
health insurance [Krankenversicherung] and pension insurance
[Pensionsversicherung] in proportion to your additional minimum
income.
People who are self-employed may participate in the Austrian
individual pension program(Selbstversicherung). You have the right to
receive a pension after 15 years of paying premiums. If you leave
Austria, you may continue to participate in the program by paying the
premiums from abroad. Details concerning the individual pension
program may be obtained from:
Pensionsversicherungsanstalt
1021 Wien, Friedrich-Hillegeist-Straße 1
Telefon: 05 03 03 (Ausland: +43 503 03)
E-Mail: pva@pva.sozvers.at
Homepage: http://www.pensionsversicherung.at (In German)
Sources: Women and Work in Austria, www.wien.gv.at
