This is the basic legal instrument as regards the conditions for entering the Czech Republic’s labor market. The act also contains provisions regarding Employment Offices, retraining, livelihood of those seeking employment and also employment of disabled persons.

Employment of foreigners (and citizens of EU member states) is covered by Sections 2 to 2e (the requirement to have both an employment permit and a residency permit; terms of validity; cases when an employment permit is not required, i.e. persons who have been granted asylum or a permanent residency permit; ban on employing asylum applicants for a period of one year).

Employment permits are issue by the Employment Office responsible for the relevant area. Employment Offices also carry out employment inspections based on Sections 8 and 9 of the Act on Employment and the Rights of Czech Government Bodies in the Area of Employment (No. 9/1991). An inspection body may impose fines only on employers; the maximum fine is CZK 250,000 or CZK 1,000,000.

Foreigners engaged in illegal employment may be punished under Section 119, Paragraph 1 b) of the Act on Residence of Aliens (No. 326/1999) by administrative deportation for 5 years (the act provides for no other penalty). The Employment Act (No. 1/1991) has entered into force on 1 February 1991.

(Abstract by Pavel Čižinský)