In what situation can I claim?

Czech and other EU nationals whose most recent gainful activity has been in the Czech Republic and who have lost their job or are looking for work can apply for unemployment benefits and assistance to find work.

Unemployed persons returning from work abroad can apply for unemployment benefits in the Czech Republic if the Czech Republic has been their country of residence during the work abroad.

After registration at the Regional Labour Office (Úřad práce) competent for their place of residence, jobseekers will be provided with assistance in their job search (pomoc při hledání práce) and information about available jobs in the Czech Republic.

What conditions do I need to meet?

Assistance with finding work

Jobseekers can be any EU national with residence in the Czech Republic who is not employed and not in business or self-employed. Registered jobseekers are allowed to work if their monthly income from such work does not exceed half of the minimum wage.

Jobseekers must cooperate with the Labour Office when finding work. Jobseekers must attend arranged meetings, must report all facts that are relevant for their registration and cannot refuse employment mediated by the Labour Office without serious reasons. Registration can be terminated when a jobseeker obstructs cooperation with the Labour Office.

When mediating employment, additional support is provided to job seekers if required by their state of health, age, involvement in childcare or for other serious reasons.

Unemployment benefit

Only an unemployed person who is registered as a jobseeker can apply for unemployment benefit.

To be eligible for unemployment benefits, the jobseeker must have completed at least 12 months of insurance periods because of employment or another gainful activity (substitute periods of employment count as well) (see Jargon busters). A jobseeker can only claim unemployment benefits if they do not receive an old-age pension.

Retraining

A person registered as a jobseeker can request retraining and retraining benefits. A suitably focused retraining programme considers the applicant's experience, skills and age and situation in the labour market.

The percentage rate of retraining benefits is set at 60% of the average net monthly wage or assessment base.

What am I entitled to and how can I claim?

Assistance with finding work

The Labour Office regularly updates information on available jobs in the Czech Republic and in particular in the region in which the applicant lives and informs jobseekers. It also provides them with guidance and consulting for selecting employment.

Increased care is provided for those who are in a disadvantaged position on the labour market. The Labour Office may secure vocational rehabilitation for persons with disabilities.

Unemployment benefit

The period of support for jobseekers is as follows::

• 5 months for those under 50;
• 8 months for those aged 50 to 55;
• 11 months for those over 55.

The amount of unemployment benefit and retraining benefits is set as a percentage of average net monthly earnings, in the case of self-employment, it will depend on the last assessment base and decreases gradually:

• 65% in the first 2 months;
• 50% in the next 2 months;
• 45% in the remaining term of benefit.

The benefit amount is set at 45% of the previous average earnings for the entire period if a person voluntarily leaves their previous employment or upon agreement with the employer (i.e. they were not made redundant).

Unemployment benefit provided to jobseekers is capped at 0.58% of the national average wage for the previous calendar year. This amount is received by those persons whose percentage calculation from previous earnings is higher than the set limit.

Retraining

Jobseekers who cannot find work in their current area of professional focus have the right to retraining. The Labour Office pays for, recommends and facilitates retraining.

The jobseeker must agree with the Labour Office and sign a contract before starting a retraining course. Jobseekers can also suggest a retraining course. The Labour Office will reimburse the costs if the course is approved.

State funds can be used to cover tuition fees and other costs associated with retraining, for instance travel costs.

Retraining support is provided to persons attending a retraining course. This amount is 60% of the average monthly net income such person received at their most recent work, in the case of self-employment of the last assessment base. Cumulation with unemployment benefit is not possible.

Where and how to apply

An unemployed person has to be registered as a jobseeker to be allowed to apply for unemployment and retraining benefits. Benefits should be requested at the local Labour Office competent at the place of residence of the jobseeker. Documentation concerning most recent employment and other documents must be furnished at the meeting with the Labour Office contact point staff.

Jargon busters

• Self-employed person (osoba samostatně výdělečně činná) is the term used for a person with income from business or other self-employment (private farmer, trade licence holder or artist).
• Substitute period of employment (náhradní doba zaměstnání) is the term used to describe periods completed without gainful activity that are taken into account when granting the unemployment benefit, such as for example periods of caring for a child up to four years or of receipt of full invalidity pension.
• Vocational rehabilitation (pracovní rehabilitace) is intended for persons with a disability. This involves counselling, preparation for employment and the creation of conditions that help persons with disabilities find and keep work.

Know your rights

These links contains useful information:

• Práva a povinnosti uchazečů o zaměstnání - Rights and Duties of Jobseekers, in Czech;
• Základní poučení uchazeče o zaměstnání - Basic instructions for jobseekers, in Czech;
• Rekvalifikace uchazeče o zaměstnání - Retraining of jobseekers, in Czech.

Useful contacts

Labour Office of the Czech Republic (Directorate General Úřad práce ČR, generální ředitelství)

Dobrovského 1278/25
170 00 Praha 7
CZECH REPUBLIC

Tel. +420 950180111
posta@uradprace.cz

Call centre:
Tel. +420 844844803

List of the Labour Office's regional and local offices (in Czech): https://www.cssz.cz/en/contacts

Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of the Czech Republic (Ministerstvo práce a sociálních věcí ČR)

Na Poříčním právu 1/376
128 01 Prague 2
CZECH REPUBLIC

Tel. +420 221921111
Data box: sc9aavg

Integrated portal of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of the Czech Republic (Integrovaný portál Ministerstva práce a sociálních věcí ČR) in Czech.

Advanced training database, in Czech: https://www.eu-dat.cz/.

Source:
European Commission and national authorities dealing with unemployment insurance.

This page was last updated on February 15, 2020.