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Prime Minster Petr Nečas has called for a tougher labour code than that proposed by the labour and social affairs minister, Jaromír Drábek. In an interview for the business daily Hospodářské Noviny the prime minister said the proposal did not go far enough in giving employers greater flexibility. Mr. Nečas, who himself served as labour minister in the previous government, has suggested among other things that employers should be able to fire an employee without stating a reason other than general dissatisfaction with performance, that the two-months notice period should be shorted to one month and that the standard three-month trial period should be extended to four months.

Planned cuts to investments in 2010 may bring the construction industry to its knees, the Association of Construction Firms said on Monday. According to the latest estimates of the Czech Business Chamber around 40,000 people in the construction industry may lose their jobs in the coming year. The construction business will be severely impacted by the Transport Ministry’s decision to freeze all non-essential building projects. Cuts in 2009, which the finance minister described as a “warm-up” resulted in a 40 percent drop in public orders in the first half of this year.

Prime Minister Petr Nečas on Monday criticized the French authorities for failing to invite the Czech Republic, as well as a number of other EU member states, to a ministerial meeting in Paris that is to discuss the expulsion of Bulgarian and Romanian Romanies from France. The meeting is due next Monday when Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg is scheduled to pay an official visit to Paris. Mr. Nečas said the selection of participants was a display of contempt and arrogance that does not further good relations among EU countries. Romania and Bulgaria, whom the problem directly concerns, have not been invited either. In an interview for Saturday’s daily Lidové noviny the Czech foreign minister criticized the ongoing expulsions. He said it was impossible not to suspect that a racist perspective played a role in the expulsions and added that they were contrary to the spirit and rules of the 27-strong European Union. He later softened his stand.

The organizers of the Grand Pardubice Steeple Chase have rejected rumors that this year’s event is to be cancelled due to financial problems. Miroslav Petrán, head of the board of directors of the Czech Horseracing Association, said the 114th annual steeple chase would take place as planned on October 10, despite the ongoing financial difficulties. He said this was possible thanks to the generosity of several of the biggest shareholders who had boosted the association’s finances with a million crown loan.