Health care worker salaries to rise by 10 percent next year

Tariff wages of health care workers are set to rise by 10 percent from 2021, the Chairwoman of the Health and Social Care Union, Dagmar Žitníková, told the Czech News Agency on Thursday. Originally, trade unions demanded that healthcare workers get an increase of 15 percent on their salaries. However, Ms Žitníková said that the unions are satisfied with the agreement, which is more substantial than last year’s CZK 1,500 flat raise.

For several years, the Czech Republic has been faced with an exodus of doctors and health care staff abroad. Better salaries are seen as the primary reason. An increase in wages is therefore seen as a vital motivator for keeping health workers in the country.

Aside from the promised raise, the government also agreed to spend CZK 11.5 billion on bonuses as a reward for their work during the spring first wave of the coronavirus. According to Health Minister Roman Prymula, the money will be paid out in November as part of the workers’ October salary.