Austria's Policy Toward Foreigners Changes as a Result of the Opening of Eastern Europe

In the course of 1990, dependent employment rose markedly as a consequence of the economic upswing. But since labour supply expanded very fast, at a rate higher than in any year since the end of World War II, unemployment also increased. In the summer of 1990, the legislation regarding the employment of foreign labour and refugees was altered in order to combat the illegal employment of foreigners. The regulations dealing with the employment of foreign workers were liberalized and the procedures for obtaining a working permit streamlined. Regulations regarding political asylum for refugees, formerly designed to transfer refugees to other countries, is now better suited to integrate refugees into Austria.