Mattle urges jobs for asylum seekers from day one

Tyrol Governor Anton Mattle called on Friday for asylum seekers to be allowed to work from their first day in Austria, a position that conflicts with the federal Austrian People’s Party’s line, ORF reported.

“Anyone who comes to Tyrol or Austria legitimately must contribute and work from day one,” Mattle told the Austria Press Agency. He said the proposal reflected his personal belief in a willingness to work and the principles of the Tyrol branch of the party.

Mattle said employment could speed up integration, pointing to Tyrol’s relatively low unemployment and demand for workers, including in tourism. He also criticised the state for placing asylum seekers in basic care while speaking about the importance of work. Most asylum seekers are still not allowed to take up jobs, he said.

As an example, Mattle cited the state-run Onboarding Office, which has helped more than 600 people who moved to Tyrol find work since 2024. They include selected asylum seekers considered highly likely to be allowed to remain, who have already been permitted to work.

The comments came a day before the Tyrol People’s Party’s conference in Innsbruck, where about 300 delegates are due to approve a new policy programme. They are also expected to approve a party membership option for Tyrol that would not automatically make members part of the federal party.

The Tyrol party is seeking greater independence from the federal party ahead of the 2027 state election. Mattle said this did not mean a split, and described his relationship with federal party leader and Chancellor Christian Stocker as “intact”. He said the conference was about what the party could do in Tyrol, citing a budget without new debt and a right to childcare as examples of its priorities.