Regular testing of employees

At an extraordinary meeting on 19 November 2021, the Government approved an old emergency measure against the spread of COVID-19. This involves the introduction of regular testing of employees and self-employed persons, which will take place once a week.  
According to the new measure by the Ministry of Healthcare, employers must ensure regular weekly testing with rapid antigen tests from 29 November 2021 at the latest. This regulation applies not only to employees but also to self-employed persons. 
Testing does not apply to persons with completed vaccinations, a confirmation of having had the illness (unless more than 180 days have elapsed), a negative RT-PCR test less than 7 days old, or a rapid antigen test less than 7 days old performed by a healthcare professional. Employees, who do not come into contact with any other persons during their work, are not required to be tested.

Reintroduction of caregiver allowance

Following a large increase in the number of children testing positive and school closures, the House of Commons has decided to approve a proposal of the government to reintroduce caregiver allowance with effect from 1 November 2021 to 28 February 2022. 
Parents who stay with their children will thus be entitled to caregiver allowance for the duration of the school or classroom closure or individual quarantine of the child. Caregiver allowance will also be paid for a child who is unable to attend school due to a family quarantine. 
The amount of caregiver allowance will be 80% of the reduced daily assessment base. The minimum daily amount of caregiver allowance is now set at CZK 400. Employees in an employment or service relationship, as well as persons working on agreements to complete a job or to perform work, who pay social security contributions, will be entitled to receive caregiver allowance.

Extraordinary contribution for an employee in case quarantine has been imposed

The so-called “isolation contribution” can enable an employee, who is entitled to income compensation due to quarantine, to receive a contribution of CZK 370 per calendar day. The employee will probably only be entitled to receive the contribution for the first 14 days of the quarantine. People working on agreements to complete a job or to perform work will also be entitled to the “isolation contribution” if they are contributing to the sickness insurance system. The contribution will be paid by the employer, but the cost of the contribution will not be attributed to the employer, as the employer will be able to deduct the contribution from social security contributions and state employment policy contributions.

The Chamber of Deputies has approved the bill with effect from 30 November 2021 until the end of February 2022.

The proposals still need to be approved by the Senate.