News

Spotlight issue

5th March 2017 / Competitiveness / Employment and Social Affairs


Employee Benefits: Costs or Motivation?

Meal vouchers, sick days, 5 weeks paid annual leave, multisport cards – these are some of the benefits offered by employers in the Czech Republic. But do benefits play an important role when employees choose an employer these days? Or do they make a difference when it comes to retention, engagement or motivation? If so, why do we see such frequent job-hopping or number of people choosing to move to the public sector? What can companies do to retain talent in the workplace? On February 28, more than 70 AmCham members gathered to discuss these topics with experts from ČSOB, Radisson Blu Alcron Hotel, Amazon EU and SAP Services at Radisson Blu Alcron Hotel Prague.

2nd March 2017 / Good governance / Legal Reform and Transparency


GRECO issues report on transparency of political funding and the criminalisation of corruption in the Czech Republic

In view of the progress achieved, GRECO concludes that the current level of compliance of the Czech Republic with the recommendations is no longer “globally unsatisfactory”.

1st March 2017 / Economic policy / Digital Agenda


Interview with Ondřej Krajíček of Y SOFT Corporation, Chair of the AmCham´s Digital Economy Council

With your advice, AmCham recently changed its membership structures, splitting the IT Committee to form a Digital Economy Council and concentrating the IT Committee on sharing best practice for using the technology to improve the functionality of a business. You took over the Chair of Digital Economy Council. Can you walk us through the thought process behind the change, and your aims for the Council?

1st March 2017 / Good governance / Public Procurement


A.Vojtěch, Secretary to Finance Minister: There is lack of economic incentives for hospitals to centralize procurement and make it more efficient

There has been an ongiong debate on public procurement in health care in the Czech Republic (similarly in Slovakia) and how it can be made more efficient.  

 

28th February 2017 / Competitiveness / Technology, R&D and Innovation


EC Regional Competitiveness Index 2016: Czech regions' technological readiness above EU average, Prague scores higher than Vienna

All Czech regions reach relatively high technological readiness scores, according to the 2016 results of the Regional Competitiveness Index published by the European Commission. When compared with Vienna, Prague scores better in Technological Readiness and gets similar scores for Macroeconomic Stability, Health, Higher Education and Lifelong Learning, Labour Market Efficiency and Innovation.

Strategic Directions for Czech Economic Policy

  1. Transition to High-Tech Manufacturing and Exports
  2. The City Campus as Idea Factory
  3. Government Programs and Processes That Drive Innovation
  4. Government as a Competitive Advantage, including Digitization

Advocacy Priorities for 2023 
 
Technology, People, Infrastructure

 

Actions Recommended in Areas:

1. Establishing Policy Objectives for Research.

2. Research Investment and Cooperation. Big Bets (Key Technology Projects).

3. Establishing Databases for Tracking Public Policy Outcomes.

4. Public Procurement as an Innovation Tool.

5. Immigration of STEM Talents.

6. Digitization of Immigration. 

7. Adult Reskilling and Upskilling.

8. Digitization of Land Use.

9. Infrastructure Development, including Technology Parks.

 

 

Read the documents in English and Czech.

Policy pipeline

In Policy Pipeline policy developments in the Czech Republic and abroad are monitored to bring better understanding of current topics and trends.

Members of the American Chamber of Commerce in the Czech Republic