The Czech Parliaments lower house gave final approval on a package of 14 government reform and austerity bills, overriding a Senates veto, CTK newswire reported. The legislation includes health care, welfare and pension reform bills, changes to the Labour Code and the VAT as well as austerity social measures. Lawmakers agreed to increase the lower VAT bracket 14% as of 2012 and unify both VAT rates at 17.5% as of 2013. The package of austerity measures in the welfare area tightens conditions for the payment of unemployment benefits and changes the system of other welfare payments. Under the bill, people will be entitled to unemployment benefits if they worked for at least 12 months in the past two years, compared to 12 months in the past three years under the current legislation. |
Social Democrats (CDDS), the major Czech opposition party, proposed next year's general and European elections to be held on the same day, CTK news agency reported. CSSD leader Bohuslav Sobotka ... more
The Czech unit of UK retailer Tesco faces a fine of up to CZK 3mn (EUR 116,000) for selling beef lasagne containing undeclared horsemeat, Radio Prague reported. The state-run Agricultural and Food ... more
The upper house of the Czech parliament, the Senate, voted on March 20 a constitutional amendment to limit the immunity of lawmakers and constitutional judges, Radio Prague reported. Out of the ... more