Czechia

The Netherlands is Shortening the Workweek to 32 Hours — Without Cutting Salaries

In the Netherlands, the traditional 40-hour workweek is becoming a thing of the past. Employees now work an average of just 32 hours a week, while still receiving their full salaries. According to the Institute for Development and Research (IDR), productivity levels remain high despite fewer hours worked. The shorter workweek has brought clear benefits. Employees are less likely to suffer from burnout, unemployment remains low, and businesses continue to grow. The system has also contributed to one of the best work-life balances in Europe. Women have played a key role in shaping this model, as many strongly support part-time work. Over time, the shorter workweek has spread across the country and is now seen as a standard rather than a special benefit. Czechia: A Different Approach In Czechia, the situation looks quite different. The standard workweek remains 40 hours, and only a small share of employees work part-time. According to Eurostat, less than 6% of Czechs work reduced hours, compared to more than 40% in the Netherlands. Trade unions in Czechia have repeatedly called for shorter working hours, arguing that productivity has increased while wages and working conditions have not kept pace. The Czech-Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions (ČMKOS)...

 by Prague Morning Sep 09, 2025

Czech Republic to Expel Belarusian Diplomat Over Alleged Espionage

A spy network being built in Europe by Belarus was broken up by intelligence services from the Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania, the Czech counterintelligence agency said Monday. The Czech agency, also known as BIS, said in a statement that a team of European agents discovered spies in several European countries from Belarus’ KGB security agency. BIS said that a former deputy head of Moldovan intelligence service SIS who handed over classified information to the KGB was among them. The Czechs also expelled a Belarusian agent who was operating under the cover of a diplomat. That person was given 72 hours to leave the Czech Republic, the Czech Foreign Ministry said Monday. The Czech agency said that Belarus managed to create the network because its diplomats are able to freely travel across European countries. “To successfully counter these hostile activities in Europe, we need to restrict the movement of accredited diplomats from Russia and Belarus within the Schengen (borderless) area,” BIS head Michal Koudelka said in a statement. The agency didn´t immediately offer more details. Romania´s anti-organized crime agency, DIICOT, said on Monday that it implemented an arrest warrant for a 47-year-old suspect on treason charges. The suspect had previously...

 by Prague Morning Sep 08, 2025

Czechia Grants Long-Term Residence to 15,000 Ukrainians

Roughly 80,000 Ukrainians applied for a new long-term residence permit in Czechia. Only 15,000 people—about one in five applicants—met the strict conditions set by the Interior Ministry. Those who qualify can now register online and book an appointment with immigration authorities. The program, launched on September 8, 2025, targets refugees who have been living in Czechia under temporary protection since the start of the war. To qualify, applicants had to prove they: have lived in the country for at least two years under temporary protection, hold a valid travel document, are financially self-sufficient, have no criminal record, maintain housing, hold continuous health insurance without debt, and do not rely on humanitarian payments. The Interior Ministry assessed eligibility using official state registers, treating families as single households. Who Did Not Qualify Out of nearly 47,000 households applying (representing 80,000 individuals), 35% failed to meet basic conditions such as health insurance coverage or proof of independence from welfare. Another 45% were disqualified due to insufficient household income. In the end, just 20% of households—around 15,000 people—passed the requirements. Among applicants: 81% were economically active adults, 18% were children. By region, the largest share of successful applicants lives in: Prague – 22.5%, Central...

 by Prague Morning Sep 08, 2025

Formula Driver Arrested After Driving on D4 Highway

Police in the Central Bohemian region detained a man on Sunday morning after he was caught driving a Formula-style racing car on the D4 highway. The unusual report first reached emergency line 158 shortly after 8 a.m., when a caller alerted authorities that a single-seater racing car had been spotted at a gas station near Dobříš. Not long after, another call came in confirming the car was heading down the D4. Several police patrols were dispatched immediately. Officers eventually located the vehicle in the village of Buk, near Milín. According to police spokeswoman Michaela Richterová, the driver initially refused to leave the car. “He was later identified as a 51-year-old man and taken to the police station in Příbram to provide an explanation,” she said. Police confirmed that the man declined to comment on the incident. The case has now been referred to administrative proceedings, where the driver faces a fine of several thousand crowns and a possible driving ban. Racing cars are not permitted on Czech roads, as they lack mandatory equipment such as license plates, indicators, and other features required by traffic law. This is not the first time a Formula-style car has appeared on the D4. In...

 by Prague Morning Sep 07, 2025

Toyota Expands Czech Plant to Build its First European EV

Japanese carmaker Toyota said on Wednesday it will invest 680 million euros on a new production line in the Czech Republic to make a battery electric car. The line will be built with a government incentive of up to 64 million euros to expand Toyota’s existing plant in Kolin, around 50 kilometers east of Prague, the Czech government and the company said in a joint statement. For Toyota, this decision signals a further rollout of its strategy designed to make operations carbon-neutral in Europe by 2040, the company said in a statement. “This advanced technology project will enhance our presence in the European market and contribute alongside our other solutions towards more efficient transportation,” Yoshihiro Nakata, president and CEO of Toyota Motor Europe, said at the event. It will become the first Toyota plant to produce battery electric cars in Europe. Prime Minister Petr Fiala said the new line will create another 245 jobs at the factory that already employs 3,200 people. Toyota did not disclose details of when production would start or of the model. The world´s top automaker currently makes Aygo X and Yaris Hybrid models at the plant, which made over 225,000 cars last year. “The automotive...

 by Prague Morning Sep 03, 2025

Czechia Holds Second-Lowest Unemployment in EU, Eurostat Reports

The European Union’s unemployment rate edged down to 5.9 percent in July, from 6 percent in June, according to adjusted figures from Eurostat. Within the eurozone—the 20 EU member states using the euro—unemployment also fell slightly to 6.2 percent. The Czech Republic once again recorded one of the bloc’s lowest unemployment rates, with just 2.8 percent of people out of work in July, an improvement of 0.2 percentage points compared to June. Only Malta had a lower rate at 2.6 percent. Eurostat’s figures, based on household surveys conducted by the Czech Statistical Office (ČSÚ) and covering people aged 15–74, differ from the official data published by the Czech Labour Office, which tracks registered jobseekers aged 15–64. By the Labour Office’s measure, unemployment rose slightly in July to 4.4 percent, up from 4.2 percent in June, illustrating how methodology can influence the headline figure. Across the EU, more than 13 million people were unemployed in July, including 10.8 million in the eurozone. Month-on-month, the EU saw a decline of 165,000 unemployed, while the eurozone recorded a decrease of 170,000. Year-on-year, the number of unemployed fell by 105,000 across the EU and by 161,000 in the eurozone, reflecting a gradual recovery despite...

 by Miriam Quhali Sep 02, 2025

Ham Recalled Across the Czech Republic After Listeria Detected

The Czech State Veterinary Service (SVS) has ordered the withdrawal of a batch of ham from supermarket shelves and online retailers after tests confirmed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes, a bacteria that can cause serious illness. The recall concerns the product “Roasted ham with reduced salt content, premium ham” (Grilovaná šunka se sníženým obsahem soli, šunka nejvyšší jakosti), produced by the company Beskydské uzeniny. The affected batch was manufactured on August 18, 2025, with an expiration date of September 15, 2025, under batch number 250818. In total, more than 206 kilograms were produced. According to SVS spokesman Petr Vorlíček, inspectors from the Moravian-Silesian Region collected samples directly from the factory. Laboratory analysis by the State Veterinary Institute in Olomouc confirmed the contamination. A portion of the production, 15.5 kilograms, was immediately detained and destroyed at the company’s warehouse. However, around 190 kilograms were shipped to retail outlets across the country, including: Rohlík.cz and Košík.cz online stores Makro, Tesco, Globus, Hruška, and Tempo supermarket chains Unsold packages are now being pulled from circulation. Customers who already purchased the ham are urged not to eat it and instead return it to the store. Beskydské uzeniny must cover the cost of destroying all...

 by Prague Morning Aug 31, 2025

Czech Companies Face Shortage of Skilled Technical Workers

Czech employers are warning of a deepening shortage of technical staff, according to a new report from the Czech Chamber of Commerce. The group said demand is especially high for electricians, welders, plumbers, and mechanics, and that the shortfall is expected to grow in the coming years. “We can expect the shortage of qualified workers in technical fields to rise by thousands within five to ten years,” said Helena Ulovcová, Secretary of the Chamber’s Education Section. The warning comes despite a recent increase in enrollment at schools that offer a qualification certificate. According to the National Pedagogical Institute, about 36,560 students joined such programs last year, up from roughly 30,200 in 2021. Many opted for these fields because capacity was limited in secondary schools that award a maturita diploma. Even so, companies argue the numbers do not cover demand. Retraining programs have had limited success, and many firms now train new staff themselves. “Whether they are fresh graduates or employees after retraining, we prepare them in new technologies, legislation, and project requirements,” said Zdeněk Tůma, Managing Director of COBAP, which installs technical systems for buildings. “During adaptation, they can work toward certificates of professional competence or gain experience alongside senior...

 by Prague Morning Aug 26, 2025

Total Lunar Eclipse Visible in Czech Republic on September 7

A total lunar eclipse will be visible from the Czech Republic and Slovakia on Sunday, September 7, offering the first opportunity in more than six years to witness this phenomenon. The eclipse will occur shortly after sunset, with the best visibility in the eastern regions. In Prague, the Moon will appear four minutes after the total phase starts, making it more challenging to spot against the brightening evening sky. “The total eclipse will begin at 7:30 p.m. above the eastern horizon, but initial observation will be difficult in the west,” the astronomers from the Physics Institute in Opava and the Czech Astronomical Society noted. “As darkness deepens, the eclipsed Moon will become visible in the clear sky, appearing within the Earth’s shadow projected through the atmosphere, often referred to as the Venus belt.” The eclipse will reach its maximum at 8:11 p.m., when the Moon may appear red to observers in Western Bohemia, at least through telescopes or cameras. As night falls, viewers across the country will see the Moon rise as a bright orange disk against the horizon. The total phase will last 1 hour, 22 minutes, and 6 seconds, making it one of the longest lunar eclipses of...

 by Prague Morning Aug 25, 2025

Growing Older: Czechia Now Has 133 Seniors for Every 100 Children

The Czech Republic’s aging index—the number of people over 65 compared with children under 15—keeps growing. According to the Czech Statistical Office (CSO), there were 133 seniors per 100 children in 2023, four more than in 2022 and ten more than in 2018. The last time Czechia had more children than seniors was in 2005. At that time, the country counted just over 1.5 million children under 15—about 36,000 more than people over 65. A year later, the groups were equal in size. Since 2007, the balance has shifted in favor of the elderly. By 2023, the country had nearly 2.3 million people over 65 compared with just under 1.7 million children. Regional Differences The most favorable ratio was recorded in the Central Bohemian Region, with 109 seniors per 100 children, followed by Prague with around 120. At the other end of the scale was the Karlovy Vary Region, where there were 152 seniors for every 100 children. More than 150 seniors per 100 children were also counted in the Hradec Králové and Zlín regions. Why the Index is Rising Experts note that the index has been growing since the mid-1980s and will continue to rise faster than in previous...

 by Prague Morning Aug 23, 2025

New Survey Reveals Attitude of Czechs Towards Legalization of Prostitution

A majority of Czechs remain uncertain about whether prostitution should be fully legalized, according to a June survey conducted by the Center for Public Opinion Research (CVVM) at the Czech Academy of Sciences. The poll found that 40 percent of respondents want to keep the current situation unchanged, in which prostitution itself is not directly prohibited but remains in a legal gray area. The law targets activities linked to prostitution, such as pimping, rather than the act itself. Roughly one-third of Czechs would support legalizing prostitution as a recognized trade, giving sex work the same legal framework as other services. In contrast, 11 percent favor a complete ban, while another eight percent would introduce penalties for both sex workers and their clients. Beyond prostitution, the survey also explored views on other ethical issues. The results show that 84 percent of Czechs back the right of women to choose an abortion, and more than four-fifths support legalizing euthanasia for terminally ill patients. Religious affiliation continues to influence attitudes. Among Roman Catholics, 68 percent support abortion rights and euthanasia, compared with 91 percent and 88 percent respectively among non-religious respondents. The survey suggests that while Czech society has reached a broad consensus...

 by Prague Morning Aug 23, 2025

Wine and Harvest Festival Season Kicks off in South Moravia

South Moravia will once again mark the grape harvest with a series of festivals in September 2025. Each town prepares its own program combining local traditions, processions, and music with tastings of Moravian wine. Znojmo Vinobrani — September 12–14, 2025 The country’s largest wine harvest festival will take place in Znojmo. The program includes thirteen music stages, performances by Ewa Farna, David Koller, IMT Smile and others, historical parades, wine taverns, and markets. Tickets are 750 CZK in advance, 850 CZK on site. Pálava Vinobrani, Mikulov — September 12–14, 2025 Mikulov will stage the 78th year of its harvest festival. Visitors can expect concerts by Pam Rabbit, Divokej Bill, Fast Food Orchestra, a royal procession, a torchlight show, and a large craft market. Advance tickets cost 1,100 CZK, or 1,300 CZK at the gate. Strážnice Wine Harvest — September 13, 2025 Strážnice will host a free one-day event featuring a traditional costumed parade from the Skalická Gate to the square, dulcimer music, and dance performances. New this year is a children’s zone with interactive workshops. The evening ends with a concert by Lake Malawi, known from Eurovision 2019. Vinobrani in Moravská Nová Ves — September 13, 2025 This free festival...

 by Prague Morning Aug 22, 2025

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