The Austrian government has abandoned the educational leave, considered ineffective, and will introduce a continuous training model for employees starting in 2026.

Following the processing of the mandate, the Austrian federal government, composed of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ), and NEOS, decided to abolish the educational leave, deemed inefficient and costly. The Minister of Social Affairs, Korinna Schumann, explained that this leave was often used for irrelevant professional training, becoming a "break from work." Starting in 2026, a new model called "continuous training period" will be implemented, which will focus on education relevant to the labor market. The new regulation will target employees who collaborate with employers to take continuous training courses, aiming to improve employment opportunities. Schumann emphasized that the new model will particularly benefit individuals with low formal qualifications, who have been disadvantaged in the labor market.