Czechia has revised its Employment Act, implementing new changes that impact foreigners seeking employment in the country. According to the Czech authorities, employers previously had to conduct labor market testing to determine if they could hire workers from the EU/Schengen Area before considering non-EU workers. This labor market test took between ten and 30 days, and only after this period could non-EU nationals apply for the jobs and obtain an Employee Card.
However, under the new rules effective July 1, 2024, labor market testing is no longer required for employers or for foreigners who wish to apply for a job and obtain an Employee Card. By implementing this change, Czechia aims to streamline the regulations and expedite the process for non-EU citizens seeking employment in the country. According to CMS Law-Now, additional amendments have also been made to the Employment Act.
Czechia has also granted free access to its labor market for citizens of ten third countries. According to the Ministry of Interior of Czechia, citizens of the following countries have free access to the labor market starting July 1, 2024:
- Australia
- New Zealand
- US
- Canada
- UK
- Israel
- Japan
- South Korea
- Singapore
Citizens from these countries who wish to work in Czechia for longer than three months must apply for a residence permit, such as an Employee Card. For citizens of these ten countries already in Czechia, the Ministry explains that they also have free access to the labor market even if their current permit is for a purpose other than employment. Additionally, the rules for posting workers from other EU member countries to Czechia have been simplified.
Changes will also be made to the vacancy register, with employers now required to specify the type of work according to the CZ-ISCO Class of Occupation when listing vacancies.