Social responsibility for Vienna.
MAGDAS was founded in 2012 by Caritas of the Archdiocese of Vienna with the goal of addressing social issues through entrepreneurial solutions wherever it makes sense and is feasible. We are a social business and firmly believe that everyone is capable of doing good work. In this way, we open up future prospects for people who would not get a chance with many other employers. Across our five business divisions—MAGDAS Recycling, MAGDAS Reinigung, MAGDAS Hotel, MAGDAS Essen, and MAGDAS Talent Bridge—we offer high-quality products and services with social value. MAGDAS employs more than 250 people, about two-thirds of whom previously faced barriers to entering the job market.
Our vision.
For every person who is able and willing to learn and work, there is a good job or apprenticeship that provides a living wage. No matter where someone comes from, what color their skin is, what they believe in, or what their background is—all people have potential and talents that they should be able to use and develop. And that is what makes them valuable employees and colleagues.
Our mission.
MAGDAS is convinced that economic success and social responsibility are not mutually exclusive. Through our social enterprise, we create meaningful training opportunities and jobs, and open up future prospects for people who would not get a chance with many other employers. That’s because we see potential where others focus on obstacles. Social responsibility is our guiding principle and, for our customers, the added value of our high-quality products and services. We’re proving that there’s another way.
Our history.
MAGDAS was founded by Caritas of the Archdiocese of Vienna, with Michael Kleinbichler serving as its founding executive director, with the goal of addressing social issues through entrepreneurial solutions wherever it seems appropriate and feasible.
Since our founding, MAGDAS Recycling has been entrusted with managing the Caritas cell phone collection. In Vienna-Floridsdorf, we handle the cell phones and smartphones from the Ö3 "Wundertüte".
With MAGDAS Essen, we are launching a social enterprise in the contract catering sector in Vienna. We prepare fresh meals for people in assisted living facilities, offices, preschools, and schools.
We are looking for a way to integrate people with refugee backgrounds into the workforce and are founding the MAGDAS Social Business association.
With MAGDAS Hotel, we are opening Austria’s first social business hotel at Vienna Prater. Our successful work integration project for people with refugee backgrounds.
MAGDAS Reinigung has become part of our social enterprise and has since been offering professional daily cleaning services with social value in Vienna and the surrounding area.
We fulfill our social responsibility by offering a specialized apprenticeship program for young people with refugee backgrounds in three in-demand trades.
We’ve moved into the MAGDAS Heartquarter in Vienna-Liesing. Austria’s most sustainable commercial building has since been home to MAGDAS Essen, MAGDAS Küche, and the MAGDAS Office.
After seven years, the temporary use permit for our pop-up hotel at Vienna Prater is set to expire. The team will open MAGDAS Hotel Vienna City on Ungargasse in October.
Our divisions MAGDAS Essen, and MAGDAS Hotel have been awarded the Austrian Ecolabel. MAGDAS Essen has been recognized as a TOP training company.
A reason to celebrate: MAGDAS Hotel, MAGDAS Essen, and MAGDAS Reinigung have been awarded the Verified Social Enterprise (VSE) label.
We are launching MAGDAS Talent Bridge to place internationally trained nursing staff with Austrian healthcare providers. Fairly, ethically, and on an equal footing.
With the opening of our second hotel location, MAGDAS Hotel Vienna Prater, in 2027, we will double our social impact and enable even more motivated individuals to enter the workforce.