Business | All stories

Czechs spent a total of more than 70 million days on sick leave last year, which is an increase of five percent on the previous year, according to the newly released data by the Czech Statistical Office. In other words, some 160 thousand people missed work on any given day due to illness or injury. The highest number of sick days was taken by people working in the processing industry.

The average age of Czech dollar millionaires is 53 and they regard investment in real estate as the most attractive form of investment, according to the latest annual Wealth Report released by the financial institution J&T Banka, quoted in Thursday’s edition of business daily Hospodářské noviny.

Prague belongs among the top ten Airbnb destinations this summer, according to a survey released by the travel company this week. The Czech capital was placed ninth, one spot behind Lisbon and one spot ahead of Amsterdam. The most popular destinations among Airbnb travellers are London, Paris and Barcelona.

The Environment Ministry’s water tank rebates program which should launch a policy of rainwater harvesting and utilization has proved hugely successful with the public. People scrambled to respond to a call for subsidies on Monday, with the day’s requests practically exhausting the ministry’s fund for this year.

The law on electronic cash registers which is being introduced in several phases is likely to cause problems at upcoming summer music festivals. Many stall-owners who previous provided refreshments at these events are concerned about reprisals and are seeking ways to avoid having to issue receipts, while others have cancelled attendance. The organizers say they fear long queues and poor service.

The Czech Republic’s State Institute for Drug Control is once again looking for a supplier of medicinal cannabis. Companies interested in the 6.36 million contract can register for the tender by July 6, the head of the State Drug Administration Zdeněk Blahuta told the Czech News Agency on Thursday.

Great news for Czech consumers. That is how the Ministry of Industry and Trade heralded Wednesday’s lower house of parliament approval for the third and final reading of a new electronic communications law.

If the country’s economy keeps doing well the Czech property market should grow by 10 percent by the end of this year with expansion slowing to 7.5 percent in 2018. That is according to a study by the Association for Real Estate Market Development quoted by the news website iHned.cz

Plans to build a high-speed rail network in the Czech Republic will greatly impact Prague, which will alone require investment of at least CZK 80 billion, iHned.cz reported. Among expected projects are tunnels and an underground extension of the city’s Main Station.

An angry war of words has broken out over government plans to pave the way for a new frequency for terrestrial tv broadcasters as part of moves to free up space for mobile data to be transmitted around the world. Satellite companies say the government move is a massive multi-billion crown giveaway with the country threatened by costly international arbitration proceedings.