Even in the conditions of a pandemic, the demand of Czech firms for foreign personnel is very high
As Radio Prague notes, the implementation of programs to attract qualified foreign workers to the Czech Republic is considered one of the tools to help restart the Czech economy, which slowed its development due to the coronavirus epidemic.
"We had to stop accepting applications and issuing visas due to the covid-19 pandemic. Restrictive measures were introduced both in the Czech Republic and in other countries – for example, in Ukraine. Now we are gradually resuming the processing of documents, this process has been underway since the end of May. First, we resumed accepting applications from foreigners who have a chance to be employed in priority sectors for us, for example, in agriculture.
We see that the demand of Czech firms for foreign personnel, due to a real shortage of labor, is very high. As of this week, representatives of professions in a number of other industries can also submit their applications to us.
However, I would like to warn that we have not yet fully returned to the standard mode of operation, there are some restrictions. But specifically in Ukraine, our capabilities are expanding rapidly," comments Zuzana Štichová, press secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.
Foreign workers have the opportunity to work in the Czech Republic on the basis of the aforementioned 'Employee Cards' under the 'Qualified Worker' program, and can also use a short-term visa obtained for the purpose of performing seasonal work and a permit for temporary employment in the food industry.
At the same time, the epidemiological situation in a number of countries around the world does not yet allow the Czech Republic to open the doors of its diplomatic missions and again issue visas and 'Employee Cards'.
"For example, India, the Philippines and Belarus do not yet have a good epidemiological situation, and documents are not accepted there. Our primary interest, however, is related to Ukraine, from which the Czech Republic receives the largest number of applications from people wishing to work here. In Ukraine, applications for 'Employee Cards' from qualified workers are already being accepted," confirms Tomáš Zeleň from the Czech Economic Chamber. "At the moment, we have received requests from 200 Czech companies for 1,000 Ukrainian workers."
Czech experts, however, predict that due to the poor condition of a number of companies that have been hit hardest by the government's 'coronavirus' restrictions, unemployment in the country will rise. Perhaps it is not worth intensively recruiting foreign employees when the domestic labor market may soon be filled with Czech hands?
"We are well aware that some Czech companies have been seriously affected by the epidemic, and some of them may be on the verge of collapse, which will increase unemployment rates in the Czech Republic. At the same time, however, we have long registered that a number of professions are unpopular among our citizens and firms constantly lack certain types of workers. We do not have them, so employers are interested in foreigners, primarily people from Ukraine, as this country is a source of necessary labor.
We are talking about builders, professions in the engineering sector, fitters, welders and other craftsmen. We have been lacking them for a very long time. The situation is related to the vocational education system that needs reform, which we have not been able to implement for a long time."
In addition to the 'Qualified Worker' program, the Czech Republic has also resumed implementation of its 'Highly Qualified Employee' and 'Key and Scientific Personnel' programs.