S-Card project will take over 5 million crowns to end

The S-Card project for electronic social benefits payments, which has so far cost the Czech state 82.54 million crowns, will cost more than five million crowns to close down, Labor Minister František Koníček said at a press conference on Tuesday. The S-Card system will be terminated gradually until through the end of next March. The more than 270,000 current holders of the S-Card will be offered to receive social benefits payments either through the post office or by transfer to their bank accounts. The project was spearheaded by the former labor minister Jaromír Drábek, who was hoping to save the ministry money on distribution of benefits, though the plan was highly criticized by politicians and the public. Last week, the lower house approved a bill that terminates the project.