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The relevant provisions of the Ausländerbeschäftigungsgesetz are worded as follows: ‘Conditions applying to foreign nationals concerning employment Paragraph 3 (1) Unless otherwise provided in this federal law, an employer may hire a foreign national only if he has obtained a work permit on behalf of that foreign national … Work permit conditions Paragraph 4 (1) The work permit shall be granted, unless otherwise provided hereinafter, if the situation of and developments in the labour market permit employment and it is not precluded by important public or macroeconomic interests. … (6) After the regional maximum numbers fixed under Paragraph 13 have been exceeded, further work permits may be granted only if the conditions under subparagraphs 1 to 3 are satisfied, and: 1. the Regional Advisory Board (Regionalbeirat) recommends the grant of the work permit unanimously or 2. the employment of the foreign national appears necessary in view of his advanced integration or 3. the employment is to be effected under a quota in accordance with Paragraph 5 or 4. the foreign national satisfies the conditions under Paragraph 2(5) or 4a. the foreign national is the spouse or unmarried minor child (including step-child or adoptive child) of a foreign national who is lawfully established and employed on a permanent basis or 5. the employment is to be effected on the basis of an international agreement or 6. the foreign national belongs to a category of persons who may be admitted to employment even after the regional maximum number has been exceeded (Paragraph 12a(2)). … Examination of the situation in the labour market Paragraph 4b (1) The situation of and developments in the labour market (Paragraph 4(1)) shall permit the grant of a work permit if neither an Austrian national nor a foreign national available on the labour market who is willing and able to carry out the job applied for under lawful conditions is available for the vacant position to be filled by the foreign national in respect of whom the application is made. Among the available foreign nationals preference shall be given to those who are entitled to unemployment benefits, who hold an authorisation to work, an exemption certificate or a permanent residence permit, [European Economic Area] citizens (Paragraph 2(6)) and Turkish workers covered by the Association Agreement. The examination shall be based on the job specification given in the work permit application, which must cover operational requirements. The employer shall supply proof of training or other special qualifications required to carry out the work. … Quotas for the temporary admission of foreign nationals Paragraph 5 (1) In the case of a temporary need for additional labour which cannot be met from the human resources available in Austria, the Federal Minister for Economics and Labour shall be authorised to fix, by regulation, quantitative quotas within the relevant limits laid down under[ Paragraph 13 of] the Niederlassungsverordnung: 1. for the temporary admission of foreign workers to a specific economic sector, occupational group, or region, or 2. for the immediate admission of seasonal agricultural harvest workers authorised to enter Austria without a visa. … (5) For foreign nationals who hold a residence permit for the purposes of studies or school education, work permits may be granted within the scope of quotas under subparagraph 1(1) and (2) only for a maximum total duration of three months per calendar year. …’