Tripartite council to meet for first time this term, wage talks to follow

The tripartite council of government representatives, trade unions and employers will meet on Monday for the first time in the current electoral term. The agenda includes the government’s policy statement, the draft state budget for this year and emissions allowances.

After the meeting, further talks are scheduled in the evening between cabinet representatives and union leaders on public sector pay rises. Trade unions are demanding a nine percent increase this year for lower-paid workers and civil servants, and a six percent rise for others.

The government rejected the EU’s ETS2 emissions trading system at its first meeting on 16 December and asked Czech MEPs to seek allies against it.

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš earlier signaled that the salaries of teachers, police officers, soldiers, civil servants and other state employees will rise from January, despite Czechia entering the year on a provisional budget.