WKW on course for renewal

WKW on course for renewal

AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY:Mr. Yilmaz, you are the first time a representative of the Social Democratic Business Association SWV has been elected as state guild master - what do you think the members expect from this election?

EMIN YILMAZ: Apparently there is a strong desire for renewal and change in the industry. We represent a total of 750 brand companies and independent workshops in the Vienna Chamber of Commerce, and they are all currently struggling with major challenges. The rapid technological change not only requires investments in new workshop equipment but, above all, ongoing further training, and this is exactly why we want to offer our members high-quality training. Basically, I appreciate the work of my predecessors and colleagues from the other factions and will not exclude anyone in the future.

There have already been offers for training and further education, but have these not been sufficiently accepted?

Unfortunately, vehicle manufacturers are becoming more and more reluctant to pass on important repair information, and so small one- and two-person businesses in particular, which make up 50 percent of our members, are being overwhelmed by the new developments. An example: Today we can still test most vehicles built up to 2023 with license-free multi-brand diagnostic devices; special testers with paid manufacturer licenses are already required for all younger vehicles. And adjusting modern LED headlights also requires know-how and the appropriate equipment. Unfortunately, small businesses in particular tend to bury their heads in the sand and ignore these developments due to a lack of time.

How willing is the industry to deal with electromobility?

There is still a lot of catching up potential there too. I keep hearing about companies that change tires or windshields on electric cars without the required HV training - this is not only illegal, but also dangerous. Every vehicle workshop today should have at least high-voltage competence up to level 2, and I am committed to that.

How do you plan to convince members of the need for further training?

As the owner of a tire wholesaler, I am constantly in close personal contact with several hundred workshops in Vienna and the surrounding area. My strength is certainly my high willingness to communicate; I like to approach people and seek personal conversations. Many people didn't know what the Chamber of Commerce could do for them, but I want to change that with a new offer offensive.

Which partners do you want to conduct the training with?

Several institutions come into question. At the WKW mobility campus at Freihof in Vienna Donaustadt, youth and skilled worker training including §57a training and further education has already proven itself. I could imagine expanding the training offering to include practical courses from diagnostic device manufacturers, for example. I will also have corresponding discussions with the Siegfried-Marcus vocational school, which happens to be in the immediate vicinity of my company. There are excellent experts and well-equipped training workshops there.

What topics do you want to address in the next four years?

A central concern for me is the expansion of the repair bonus to car repairs, and I will campaign for this. There is also a great need for reform in apprenticeship training. Fewer and fewer companies want to take on apprentices because they do not agree with the bureaucracy and the liabilities in the apprenticeship contract. Such things should be discussed nationwide and in cooperation with the Chamber of Labor and the AMS. The final apprenticeship examination also urgently needs to be reformed, as it is based on completely outdated documents. I also see a great need for additional training when it comes to corporate management. Many companies do not calculate their hourly rates correctly because they do not know exactly what belongs to the supplier and what belongs to the state, and what they actually have left over at the end. As an experienced entrepreneur, I like to pass on my knowledge in this area - that is one reason why I was happy to accept the job as state guild master.

To person:

Emin Yilmaz, 53, has been working in the Viennese automotive industry for around 20 years. The father of four daughters has been running an independent automotive workshop in Vienna Strebersdorf since 2020 as well as the tire wholesale company “Reifen 2000” with a total of 20 employees, including 5 apprentices in the areas of automotive technology, body construction technology and office purchasing.