A group of members of Parliament has presented a draft bill to the Chamber of Deputies, amending the stipulation of the labour code, based on which the basic leave assessment should increase from the current four weeks to five. The ministry of labour and social affairs (MoLSA) supports this increase. According to the ministry, the change may help remove inequalities between groups of employees and would balance work and personal life better. According to the OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development), the Czech Republic is among the countries with the longest working hours in Europe, where we work 400 hours more than the German and 300 hours more than people in France, on average.

This is while experts are of the opinion that an employee, who is not rested, is more prone to injuries. Laying down a higher basic leave assessment would contribute to its recuperative function and would help reduce the risk rate of occupational injuries and diseases.

The draft bill submitted by members of Parliament has been sent for assessment to the MoLSA, finance ministry, ministry of industry and trade, Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic, Confederation of Employers´ and Entrepreneurs´ Associations of the Czech Republic and the Chamber of Commerce, but the MoLSA was the only one to support the draft, while also pointing out the as yet undetected effects on employers, who provide only four weeks of leave to their employees.

With regard to certain shortcomings and low support for the bill, the government has taken a neutral position to the draft bill, but has not fully closed the question of introducing five weeks of leave. A number of benefits speak in its favour.