Labour offices banned from using IT system for welfare payments

The Czech anti-monopoly authority has prohibited labour offices from using their IT system for welfare payments, a spokesman for the Labour and Social Affairs Ministry said. The ban came into effect on Wednesday. The anti-monopoly authority imposed the ban due to the fact the system, which was introduced last January, was chosen without an open tender. The ban will not affect welfare payments for December which have already been sent, a spokeswoman for the labour office said. Former labour and social affairs deputy minister, Vladimír Šiška, is being prosecuted on corruption charges in the case.