Czechia to give foreigners from three more countries access to labor market

Starting in July, foreigners from 10 countries outside the EU will likely not need work permits or employment cards in the Czech Republic. People from Australia, Japan, Canada, South Korea, New Zealand, the UK, the U.S., Israel, and Singapore should have free access to the Czech labor market.

This change is accounted for in the proposal for a new regulation, which the government is set to approve on Wednesday. The measure aims to facilitate the situation for experts and managers from foreign countries.

Following a tripartite discussion, the cabinet will be able to adjust the list of eligible countries based on the current state of the Czech labor market. Czech labor offices registered roughly 10,000 employees from a dozen selected countries at the end of March.

“When selecting the countries, priority was given to supporting the recruitment and employment of highly qualified workers, and from a security standpoint, the chosen countries pose a minimal degree of risk,” the Ministry of Labor wrote in the documents.

According to the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, there are 817,940 foreign employees in Czechia. Employees from ten selected countries total 9,989 people (1.2 percent of the total). Over 80 percent wor in highly skilled positions.

The measures will expedite the entry into the Czech labor market for foreigners who are among the above-average paid. The administrative burden on employers should also be reduced. The ministry notes that people from the selected countries do not reside or work illegally in the Czech Republic, nor do they apply for asylum here.

The employment amendment is expected to take effect in July.

According to the forthcoming government regulation, people from the states on the new list should not need a work permit, an employee card, a blue card, or an internal employee transfer. Ministers, trade unions, and employers discussed the selection of countries in early May. The Ministry of Labor originally proposed seven countries, then added Singapore and Israel after further deliberation.

Currently, people from countries outside the EU and European Economic Area require permits or cards to work in the Czech Republic. Some employers and investors have cited a lengthy procedure that complicates hiring experts.

The Ministry of Labor states in the regulation documents that the countries on the list are among the most economically powerful in the world, and the Czech Republic has long stood for intensive cooperation with them. The authors of the regulation note that "reciprocal access" for Czech workers cannot be demanded in these countries.