Local Czech labour offices have been instructed to take a tougher line on permits for foreigners seeking work in the country or those wanting to prolong their existing permits. The instruction is a direct result of the mounting number of jobless Czechs.

The Czech Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MLSA) wants labour offices not to give out new permits and not to prolong current work permits for foreigners if a Czech or an EU/EEA citizen can fill the position.

MLSA spokeswoman Štěpánka Filipová stresses that labour offices have been told to take a flexible approach and this is not a blanket ban. She declared that the MLSA priority is to get as many Czech citizens back to work as possible and thereby improve their living standards. That is why the ministry made this recommendation. Having said this, the limitations on foreigners from third countries should take place in every case in a sensitive way with regard to the circumstances of individuals and the labour market of specific regions.

According to the latest figures for February, Czech unemployment now stands at 9.9 percent. At the same time, there are around 66,000 workers from so-called third countries, those not from the European Union, European Free Trade area or Switzerland. Most of these are Ukrainians (43,755), Moldovans (4,475), Mongolians (3,149), Russians (1,987) and Vietnamese (1,981).