News

Talks between government representatives and labor unions on wage increases for public sector employees as of September have hit the rocks. The government rejected the unions’ demand for a 10% pay rise for all, arguing that the funds are not available, and offered instead to increase the salaries of only the lowest-paid employees, such as janitors, cleaners and cooks, by three to five percent. The unions rejected the offer and will meet on Monday to consider their next course of action, including a possible strike.

Czech Labour and Social Affairs Minister Marian Jurečka said he was disappointed by the outcome of the talks, adding that the government had offered what it could afford. He said that for next year the cabinet is counting on a five percent increase in salaries in the public sector, which should amount to CZK 20 billion in state funds.

Conservationists have confirmed an outbreak of crayfish plague in the Žďárské vrchy protected landscape area. The Regional Veterinary Administration and nature conservationists are taking emergency measures to reduce the risk of a further spread of the disease which is threatening critically endangered "native" river crayfish. There is a ban on moving crayfish and other aquatic species out of the marked zone and releasing them in other places, while the area is being cleaned and disinfected. According to conservationists, the source of the crayfish plague is non-native species of crayfish from North America, especially signal crayfish, which are resistant to the disease.

Thursday should be bright and sunny and very hot with daytime highs between 29 and 33 degrees Celsius.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala has ordered three cabinet ministers to help Regional Development Minister Ivan Bartoš deal with the persistent problems plaguing the newly-digitized system of construction permits. They are Transport Minister Martin Kupka , Industry and Trade Minister Jozef Síkela and Finance Minister Zbyněk Stanjura. Mr. Fiala said that cooperation between ministries is a common procedure especially on big projects such as this. The newly-digitized system for construction permits has come under fire from all sides. Both opposition and coalition politicians have criticised the minister for its problematic rollout on June 1 and some have called on him to resign.