Legal

EU allows state aid for businesses affected by war

The war in Ukraine and the associated sanctions against Russia have hit the European economies hard. The European Commission has therefore adopted a Temporary Crisis Framework allowing member states to provide state aid to affected businesses to…

Practical commentary on legislation concerning refugees from Ukraine

In connection with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, three laws were published in the Collection of Laws on 21 March, regulating the residence, employment, benefits, and education of Ukrainian refugees. From a practical point of view, what must they…

Czech response to arrival of Ukrainian refugees – three new laws

The ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine has caused an unprecedented influx of refugees seeking shelter and safety in the Czech Republic. Czech legislation was not prepared for such a situation: although authorities managed to respond quickly and…

Temporary protection and free access to labour market for Ukrainian citizens…

Responding to the Ukrainian emigration wave, on 9 March 2022 the Czech Government and subsequently also the chamber of deputies approved several bills. In this article, we will mainly focus on the bills that aim to implement EU Directive 2001/55/EC…

Ukraine: Practical recommendations for Ukrainian workers and their employers

The armed conflict in Ukraine is the most serious event to hit Europe since World War II. Apart from the human rights dimension, it also affects the Czech labour market.

Up-to-date information for Ukrainian citizens on entry and stay in Czech Republic

In response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Department for Asylum and Migration Policy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Czech Republic has issued instructions for all Ukrainian citizens affected by the situation. At the same time,…

ESG and new obligations for investment firms

From August 2022, investment firms, securities traders, and other financial service providers covered by MiFID II will be required to introduce more detailed information and questionnaires for investors when providing investment advice and portfolio…

Harsh penalties for breach of employer’s reporting obligation

Foreign employees are relatively commonplace for many Czech employers. We know from practice that employers often neglect some of their obligations, especially for foreign workers from the EU, and are then surprised when penalised by competent…

Home office rules? Legislative amendment back on table

Work from home has boomed during the COVID-19 pandemic, and many employees continue to use it. Yet, the Labour Code addresses work outside employer's workplace only marginally, and no amendment to the existing regulation has passed so far. This…

Discontinuation of enforcement proceedings without creditors having to cover costs

On 1 January 2022, an amendment to the Enforcement Procedure Code entered into force, aiming to resolve the problem of multiple executions and to modify the rights of the parties to the proceedings. However, the final effect of the new regulation is…

SAC on rules for mutual representation of states in issuing Schengen visas

The Czech Republic does not have diplomatic representation in all countries whose citizens are subject to visa requirements. The same applies to other Schengen member states. While this does not mean that citizens of those states cannot travel to…

Ombudsman: how to improve treatment of EU workers

EU legislation aims to ensure that in member states, domestic workers and those from other EU countries are treated equally. A level-playing field is essential for free movement in the EU internal market. However, a recent survey by the Czech…