Business News
Tension grows between Trade Unions and management at the largest Czech automotive company Skoda over wage increase. Production and sales of road vehicles decreased in 2002. The introduction of the ADSL technology by the dominant telecommunications operator has been delayed again. The telecommunications industry in the Czech Republic has grown remarkably in recent years. Government appoints four new members to the supervisory board of the Unipetrol oil group. Czech aircraft manufacturer Aero Vodochody steps up effort to sell its L159 light combat aircraft to the Indian army. The amount of counterfeit money that has been intercepted in the Czech Republic has decreased.
Strike an increasing possibility as negotiations at Skoda Auto hits a roadblock
A deadlock between union leaders and management at the Czech car maker Skoda Auto raises the possibility of a strike at the largest company in the Czech Republic. Tension between the two groups has been increasing since union leaders called for a number of voluntary walkouts in recent weeks. Union leaders are calling for a 10.5% increase in wages where management is only offering 3.2 %. The two groups have time till April 1st, when the current agreement expires.
Czech output of vehicles falls 3.3 % in 2002
Czech automotive companies manufactured just over 450,000 vehicles of all categories last year, which was a year on year decrease of about 3 %, the Czech Association of Automotive Industries reported. Sales of automobiles in the domestic market were hit quite hard with a decrease of almost 10%. However, the production of buses rose by more then 15 % last year. Although sales of buses - the majority of which were produced by Czech bus manufacturer Karosa - decreased in the Czech Republic, exports improved by more then 30 %.
Introduction of ASDL further delayed
ASDL, the technology that allows for high speed internet access through fixed-line phone networks, is still not available in the Czech Republic. Days after Czech telecom announced its new price proposal for ASDL services the majority of alternative telecommunications providers rejected the offer. The alternative operators criticise Czech Telecom for offering only inter-connection services, obstructing the full development of ASDL-based services in the Czech Republic. Under Czech Telecom's current proposal alternative providers of telecommunications say they would not be able to offer lower prices to users then the prices set by Czech Telecom.
Czech Republic has 120 telephones per 100 inhabitants
The telecommunications industry in the Czech Republic has grown remarkably in recent years. The number of telephones per 100 inhabitants has risen from 15 in the former Czechoslovakia in 1989 to more than 120 in 2003. The huge increase has been driven by mobile phone sales, while the fixed-line network has remained largely stagnant.
Unipetrol appoints four government representatives to supervisory board
The Unipetrol oil group, in which the government is trying to privatise its 63 % stake for the second time, has four new state-appointed representatives on its 12-member supervisory board. Two representatives of the National Property Fund and one member of the finance ministry and one person from the industry and trade ministry were added to the board. The previous four members were dismissed by shareholders. The largest subsidiaries of the Unipetrol oil group include chemical works and refineries Chemopetrol, Benzina, and Ceska rafinerska.
Aero to go to India in February for talks on potential L159 supplies
Czech aircraft manufacturer Aero Vodochody will next month present its L159 light combat aircraft to the Indian army for the first time. Aero is hoping to sell 66 aircraft in the first stage. This despite the fact that the British firm BAE Systems won the original tender for supplies to the Indian army. Czech Minister of Defence Jaroslav Tvrdik and Industry and Trade Minister Jiri Rusnok are expected to accompany the delegation to India.
Czech Republic reports the least counterfeit currency since 1993
The amount of counterfeit money that has been intercepted in the Czech Republic has decreased. Last year the police discovered over 6000 counterfeit notes, the smallest amount since 1993. According to the Czech National Bank, the most frequently falsified Czech bank-notes are those of the 500 and 1,000 crown denomination. Counterfeit foreign currency that has been intercepted in the Czech Republic has also decreased largely due to the introduction of the euro.
