The state of Styria in Austria introduces severe penalties for the unemployed, including large fines and risks of imprisonment, affecting vulnerable individuals.

The state of Styria in Austria, led by the FPÖ, has adopted a controversial legislative package that introduces severe penalties for recipients of social benefits. These measures include fines ranging from 200 to 4,000 euros for those who do not utilize their work capacity or fail to meet reporting obligations. Additionally, social benefits can be drastically reduced, and in extreme cases, completely eliminated, which can lead to loss of housing.

Critics, including the head of AMS ("Labor Market Service") in Styria, warn that these rules can create an "existential threat" for people in difficulty, risking sending them to prison simply for being poor. Furthermore, the measures disproportionately affect vulnerable individuals, such as women fleeing abusive environments and people with special needs. The local government justifies these measures by the need to save public funds, but critics consider them repressive and contrary to efforts to create unified legislation at the national level.