Disputes over wage growth in public sector continue

Negotiations continue to try to reach agreement on a proposed pay rise for public sector workers in 2022. The Social Democrats, a junior party in the ruling coalition have proposed a 6 percent increase in wages for the public sector next year, which would copy the wage growth of constitutional officials and judges. The ruling ANO party is pushing for a 3.5 percent increase in view of the state of public finances and wages in the private sector. Moreover, Prime Minister Andrej Babiš has called for a special session of the lower house to debate the possibility of freezing politicians‘ wages. The lower house previously shelved proposals for such a freeze.