Last pre-election tripartite meeting agrees further anti-crisis measures

The last tripartite meeting prior to the election for the Parliamentary Chamber of Deputies was held on 22 April 2010. The general election was due to take place on 28 and 29 May. Another tripartite meeting is planned for 3 June. Discussions at the last pre-election meeting criticised the implementation of 38 short-term anti-crisis measures. At the meeting, 13 points were agreed aimed at recovery of the economy, employment growth and managing public expenditure.

At a tripartite meeting on 22 April 2010, the Czech social partners criticised the government for pursuing its own goals in the implementation of 38 joint anti-crisis measures, which had been approved at the tripartite meeting on 2 February (CZ1002039I). The Chair of the Czech-Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions (Českomoravská konfederace odborových svazů, ČMKOS), Jaroslav Zavadil, commented that: ‘We were primarily pursuing two goals – to initiate economic growth and create a fair environment. And in our opinion these seemed not to be achieved by the government.’ Vice-president of the Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic (Svaz průmyslu a dopravy ČR, SP ČR), Jaroslav Hanák, added: ‘The approach towards the implementation of 38 items lacks an interdepartmental approach.’

The April meeting resulted in a new agreement containing 13 items, aimed at recovery of the Czech economy, employment growth and a reasonable management of public expenditure. The Prime Minister, Jan Fischer, committed the respective departmental ministers to cooperate in implementing the items. There will be a meeting of special expert groups composed of ministers and the top representatives of employer organisations and trade unions to discuss these items.

Items agreed at tripartite meeting

The 13 points agreed at the tripartite meeting included the following.

1. In order to improve equality in the business environment, an ‘integrated control’ system will be drawn up with a view to finalising the new legal regulation.

2. To evaluate the efficiency and usefulness of state expenditure programmes, the government will carry out an audit of state budget funds management.

3. The Ministry of Finance (Ministerstvo financí) will make efforts towards the private banking sector operating in the Czech Republic, aiming to strengthen confidence in the sector by improving commercial or potentially consumer loan availability and provision.

4. A plan will be developed on a ‘Pro-export strategy for 2010/2011–2016’.

5. The government will analyse the need for housing and design a practicable construction strategy, including with regard to the reconstruction and renovation of flats for elderly people and low-income groups supported by the state.

6. The government will promote the completion of the construction of blocks III and IV of the southern Temelín Nuclear Plant and a comprehensive renovation of the northwestern power plant Prunéřov II.

7. The government will determine the conditions for adopting a final decision regarding improving the navigability of the Elbe river between the northcentral town of Přelouč and the northern town of Děčín.

8. The government will prepare an analysis of short-time working, following the model of kurzarbeit in Germany, whereby employees receive about 80% of their salary for working half-time as a form of government work subsidy. There is already some use of short-time working in the Czech Republic (CZ0908029I).

9. The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (Ministerstvo práce a sociálních věcí, MPSV) will continue the programmes ‘Training is an opportunity’ and ‘Extend your knowledge’ in order to increase employees’ adaptability to changes in the labour market and help reduce the unemployment rate.

10. The fight against corruption will continue through a consistent application of the updated government strategy on this issue for the period 2006–2011.

11. The government will devise a concept for securing resources to fund transport and transport infrastructure from 2011 onwards.

12. The government will reduce the administrative time required for processing the payment of pension insurance and sickness benefits.

13. The social partners support the proposal of the Update of the State Energy Strategy developed by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (Ministerstvo průmyslu a obchodu, MPO), and recommend its adoption.

The agreed measures should strengthen and improve the business environment and the quality and efficiency of the public service, as well as preventing money outflows from the state budget and leading towards the completion of construction of transport and industrial infrastructure. Prime Minister Fischer declared: ‘These are things that should result in growth recovery.’

Tripartite meetings at expert level

The social partners evaluated the meeting positively. Prime Minister Fischer presented the new model for tripartite meetings at expert level. The respective minister to whom the meeting relates would always call a meeting with social partners at the highest level. According to the prime minister, the entire tripartite talks could thus be moved forward. After the meeting, the President of SP ČR, Jaroslav Míl, stated: ‘Within a short time we will meet at expert level with ministers. The most important issues we are going to deal with will be how to reduce public expenditure and also how to increase expenditure.’

Commentary

The meeting on 22 April 2010 was the last tripartite meeting prior to the election for the Parliamentary Chamber of Deputies. The parliamentary election was due to take place on 28 and 29 May. A further tripartite meeting is planned for 3 June. It is to be hoped that the new government will pursue the items agreed at the April meeting.

Soňa Veverková, Research Institute for Labour and Social Affairs (RILSA)