The Czech Republic has long suffered from a shortage of workers. However, now entrepreneurs could get at least partially a really “fresh” power. The Minister of Labor, Marian Jurečka, is proposing a novelty in the amendment to the Labor Code, which should allow 14-year-old children and other minors to work during the summer holidays. They are supposed to allow employers to cover summer labor shortages. The proposal also shows in which specific professions child workers could be employed.
The Minister of Labor recently introduced another amendment to the Labor Code, which this time should go in the opposite direction after a year of tightening, i.e. towards greater flexibility of the labor market. One of the steps is to push the boundaries of “child” labor. Currently, the Civil Code prohibits the work of minors under the age of 15 or minors who have not completed compulsory schooling. The exception is only artistic, cultural, advertising or sports activities. In both cases, the rules are now set to change. The rule of completed schooling is supposed to disappear and children get the opportunity to work under certain conditions from the age of 14.
However, other restrictions apply. The work should only take place during the summer holidays, it should only involve the performance of so-called light work, overtime work, at night, and limited working hours will be prohibited. “They will be able to do light work during the main holidays, on the condition that this work does not harm their health, education and moral development,” states the reasoned report for the proposal.
At the same time, the proposal also specifies what kind of work could be done in the case of fourteen-year-old children. “Specifically, light work means such work, during which, according to current knowledge, there is no known probable adverse effect on health,” states the reasoned report. These are supposed to be works from the so-called first category.
“Among these light jobs can be included, for example, the work of camp leaders and animators, the work of auxiliary forces in the hospitality industry (helping in the kitchen), service in the hospitality industry (e.g. in refreshments, but not where alcoholic beverages are sold), manual washing work vehicles, administrative support work (e.g. handling correspondence, scheduling meetings), delivery work (delivering letters and light parcels), cinema attendants and ticket sellers, social media managers, translators, private tutors, cleaners and domestic help , survey interviewers, web administrators, graphic designers or multimedia artists,” the ministry provides indicative examples.
On the other hand, jobs such as machinist, foundry maker, model maker, woodworker, night watchman, mason, tiler, glass worker, waste sorter, nurse, seamstress or paint worker, i.e., jobs from the second to fourth category, should remain prohibited to juveniles. “The examples of the jobs listed above are only indicative, it is always necessary to be based on specific work activities and work conditions, i.e. in which category the work is classified and whether it does not contain an activity for the performance of which the conditions of health fitness are determined by another legal regulation,” specifies the proposal.
Employers also appreciate the additional earnings of under-15s on part-time jobs. The ministry foresees a positive impact for entrepreneurs already in the proposal itself. “Allowing minors from the age of 14 to perform light work during the main holidays can have a positive impact on the business environment of the Czech Republic, as this way employers will be able to partially cover the ‘shortage’ of the workforce during the main holidays, i.e. in the summer, when employees take vacation en masse. And it will not only concern 14-year-olds, but also 15, 16 and 17-year-olds who have not completed compulsory schooling,” the ministry adds in the proposal.
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