Bernhard Achitz

Bernhard Achitz has been Ombudsperson since 2019. He is responsible for social affairs, care and health. At federal level, he examines health, pension and accident insurance as well as the labour market administration and the areas of youth and family. His responsibilities at regional level include issues relating to people with disabilities, but also topics such as minimum income, basic services and healthcare administration, as well as youth welfare, animal welfare and veterinary matters. Achitz is also Secretary General of the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI).

Curriculum vitae

Bernhard Achitz was born in Vienna on 20 July 1965. After studying law at university and spending a year at court, he initially worked in the social policy department of the Vienna Chamber of Labour. He then headed the Social Policy Department of the Austrian Trade Union Federation (ÖGB) until 2007. From 2008 to June 2019, he was Executive Secretary of the ÖGB and therefore also a member of the ÖGB Executive Board. He was also a board member of the Federal Chamber of Labour.

Bernhard Achitz worked for the ÖGB in various positions in labour market administration and health administration. He was a member of the Administrative Board of the Public Employment Service Austria from 1999 to 2008. He was also a long-standing member of the association's executive board, becoming its first deputy chairman in 2006. From 1 April 2019 to June 2019, he was a member and Deputy Chairman of the Transition Committee of the General Accident Insurance Institution (AUVA).

From 30 June 2003 to 31 January 2005, Bernhard Achitz was a representative of the Austrian Trade Union Federation (ÖGB) on the Fundamental Rights Committee of the Austrian Convention. As a delegation member at several annual meetings of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and congresses of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), he advocated trade union and human rights at international level.