The government has approved a proposal of minister of labour and social affairs Jana Maláčová (ČSSD), which will help Czech employees and employers reduce the effects of the COVID-19 epidemic. The Antivirus employment protection programme is a crucial measure, due to which the state will compensate the paid financial resources to companies via the Labour Office of CR. This measure will help employers manage the current situation better, and they will therefore not need to turn to layoff.

“The aim is that no one loses their job due to the current situation. That companies would not need to proceed to layoff and that citizens would know they can rely on the state.” says minister Maláčová.

To employers, whose economic activity will be endangered as a result of the spreading of the disease, a contribution to full or partial reimbursement of wages will be provided, which will pertain to employee due to obstacle in work on the part of the employee (imposed quarantine) or on the part of the employer (obstacle – closure of premises due to government regulation to close down premises), if proven that the obstacle in work emerged as a result of the COVID-19 disease.

The contribution will be provided by the Labour Office of CR, the amount and time of provision will depend on the reason why the obstacle in work emerged; for every employee it will be necessary to differentiate the reason of the obstacle in work.

The following measures will be activated immediately:

Regime A - Quarantine imposed on employees. Reimbursement of wage or salary will be paid to employees in the amount of 60 % of the average base of assessment. A contribution reaching the full reimbursement of wage will be provided to the employer.

Regime B - Impossibility to assign work to employees due to emergency measures of the government. Based on the resolution of the government about the adoption of emergency measures in connection to COVID-19 disease, the employer is ordered to close down his business premises. 100 % reimbursement of wage or salary will be paid to employees. An 80 % contribution to the paid wage will be provided to the employer.

The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs expects the total costs of the Programme to reach CZK 1.2bn.

Press Department of the MoLSA