Daily news summary

Health Minister against blanket pay rise of health staff

The Czech Minister of Health, Adam Vojtěch, is against a blanket pay rise for employees in the health sector. He made the statement in a debate on Czech Television on Sunday.

The country’s health and social care unions have been pushing for a 10-percent pay rise, but according to Dagmar Žitníková, the head of the umbrella organization of health and social services employees, there is still space for negotiation. The union committee is set to meet on Monday to further debate the issue.

Meanwhile, the head of the Czech Doctors’ Union, Martin Engel, said they will continue to insists on the 10-percent salary hike for doctors.

President pays tribute to Czechoslovakia’s first president T. G. Masaryk

President Miloš Zeman and other politicians paid tribute to Czechoslovakia’s first president Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk at his grave in Lány on Saturday on the occasion of the 81st anniversary of his death.

The Czech head of state also lit the annual ceremonial fire, along with the honorary head of TOP 09 party Karel Schwarzenberg, mayor of Lány Karel Sklenička and a group of voluntary firefighters. Dozens of people attended the traditional event, which was established in 1935.

Masaryk had great merit in bringing about the establishment of an independent state of Czechs and Slovaks after WWI. Dubbed the Father of the Nation, Masaryk was a much loved and respected politician and is revered to this day.

Mass commemorates Ryszard Siwiec’s self-immolation

Roman Catholic Bishop Václav Malý on Sunday served a special mass at Prague St Vitus Cathedral for the Czech and Polish nations. The mass also commemorated Ryszard Siwiec, the Polish man who set himself alight on September 12, 1968 in protest at his country’s participation in the Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia. The name of Ryszard Siwiec was unknown for decades after his self-immolation, as Poland’s communist government tried to erase his act from the public consciousness. A monument to the Polish protester was unveiled in 2010 in front of Prague’s Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes.

Czechs more willing to change jobs

Some 15 percent of Czech employees changed jobs in the past six months, according to a survey carried out by the recruitment agency Randstadt.

A quarter of Czechs are considering finding a new employment or are actively searching for it, which is five percent more than in the previous six months. People employed agriculture, forestry, hospitality and catering changed jobs were most willing to change jobs.

The study also suggest that 62 percent of Czech employees are happy with their current employer, while ten percent are dissatisfied.

Latin pop star Ricky Martin to perform in Prague on Sunday.

Latin pop star Ricky Martin is set to perform in Prague’s O2 Arena on Sunday. According to organizers, he is going to sing both in Spanish and English, and will perform all his greatest hits.

The Puerto-Rican singer shot to international fame in 1999 after releasing his single ‘Livin’ la Vida Loca’ which has sold over eight million copies and is one of the best-selling singles of all time. The Prague concert will be Martin’s first appearance in the Czech Republic.

Canoeist Jiří Prskavec claims K1 World Cup title

The Czech Republic’s Jiří Prskavec has won the World Cup title at the canoe slalom World Cup finals in Seu d'Urgell in Spain. The 25-year-old Czech Olympian finished third in the men’s K1 event on Sunday, which was enough to secure the overall win.

Weather

Monday is expected to be mostly sunny with daytime highs ranging between 23 and 27 degrees Celsius.