Labour Ministry prepared to launch short-time work scheme if energy prices remain unchecked

Unless the government finds a solution to combating rising energy prices that would help struggling businesses, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs is ready to launch a so-called “kurzarbeit” short-time work scheme  in which private sector employees agree to a reduction in working time and pay, with the state making up for all or part of the lost wages, Vice-Premier and Labour Minister Marian Jurečka told CNN Prima News on Sunday.

The government is now trying to find an EU-wide solution to the problém in order to ensure that the pressure on energy prices is spread out equaly, the minister said. If this were to fail to happen, the government would introduce its own measures which could include a cap on energy prices, he said.