Czech government adopts new rules for short-time work

The Czech government has agreed on new rules for short-time work (kurzarbeit) that could come into effect as of November, Prime Minister Andrej Babiš said on Friday.

The cabinet should be able to introduce short-time work after prior consultation with collective bargaining partners, he said. If working hours are reduced, continued payment of wages could be ordered on a nationwide, regional or industry-wide level, Babiš said.

The government has also decided that employees can stay at home on short-time work up to four days a week. They receive 70 percent of their net wage but not more than the average Czech wage.