Related articles
Current AffairsOpening debate on the 'regularisation' of illegal workers
The shadow economy of the Czech Republic is thought to employ hundreds of
thousands of undocumented workers. They come mainly from Ukraine and
Slovakia, Vietnam and Russia. On Tuesday --just as the Interior Ministry
was outlining plans to close several asylum centres due to dwindling
numbers of refugees-- Czech non-profit organisations issued a clarion call
for the "regularisation" of illegal workers.
More
Business NewsBusiness briefs
CNB rate increase catches market off guard; Minimum wage set to increase
6.6 percent; Microsoft and CzechInvest plan top open 'innovation centre';
Netherlands may fully open labour market to Czechs; Proposed extension for
restitution claims fails to pass
More
Current AffairsCzech jobseekers often fall victim to bogus job agents in UK
The United Kingdom is one of only three old EU countries that opened their
labour markets to the citizens of new member states after last year's
enlargement. According to UK statistics, some 15,000 Czechs have
registered for work in the United Kingdom since accession in May 2004.
Many have found a job to their satisfaction but there are also plenty of
those who have fallen prey to bogus job agents.
More
One on OneNandanie and Asoke Weerasinghe - From Sri Lanka to Prague in the 1960s
In today's One on One I speak to Nandanie and Asoke Weerasinghe. Both are
successful professionals in Alberta, Canada, thanks to their determination
and a good education which started with a scholarship to study in Prague.
Nandanie studied medicine at Charles University and Asoke engineering at
Prague's Technical University. Prague is where they met; they eventually
went on to complete their studies in Western Europe, emigrated to Canada
and finally got married in their home country of Sri Lanka. They came to
Czechoslovakia during the big changes of the mid 1960s. Many doors that
closed for Czech students with the Soviet invasion of 1968, remained open
for foreign students, granted they were successful in their exams. They
had only had one year of intensive study to grasp the complexities of the
Czech language. Now they are visiting the Czech Republic again, for the
second time since their days as students here. Though eager to eat Czech
food and drink Czech beer, the idea was not always so appealing for them.
Asoke begins with his first impressions of Prague. More
One on OneTheodore Whang - an American music teacher in Prague
In One on One Jan Velinger's guest is Ted Whang - an American music teacher
and English teacher of Korean, Japanese, and Czech descent, who has lived
and worked in Prague since 1992. Ted studied music education in
Valpairaiso, Indiana, and taught piano and English in the now defunct
theatre department at the conservatory in Prague. Involved in numerous
music projects, he wrote the lyrics for several songs for two up &
coming stars: contestants in first Czech edition of Pop Idol who have
since become household names. More
Business NewsBusiness briefs
CalPERS investment fund says Czech Republic is No. 2 in emerging market; Bank of Tokyo- Mitsubishi to open Prague branch to meet
Japanese demand; EMV launches $45m arbitration case against the Czech
state over TV3 license transfer; UK says 230,000 east European workers
have registered for work there since EU expansion; Israeli vegetarian food
producer Tivall to build $30m Czech factory
More
Current AffairsUK government records high number of Czech workers
In the months leading up to last year's expansion of the European Union,
many member states expressed concern about a potential influx of cheap
labour from the new member countries. Most chose to introduce a
transitional period of restrictions, while Sweden, Ireland, and Britain
opened their labour markets. A British government study conducted last
year forecast that between 5,000-13,000 workers from the new EU member
states would register for work every year. But that number has been the
average registered every month.
More
PanoramaUnleashing the (Czech) Puppetmaster Within
Puppet theatre has been an integral part of Czech culture for centuries,
and few tourists leave Prague without taking in a performance of Don
Giovanni or the Marriage of Figaro, or at least bringing home a
marionette, be it a devil or angel, king or court jester. Children here
grow up on characters like Spejbl and Hurvinek; the Academy of Performing
Arts (DAMU) even offers a masters degree in "alternative and puppet
theatre direction." So little wonder that enthusiasts from around the
world journey to Prague to take workshops under master Czech puppet-makers
like
Miroslav Trejtnar. We caught up with Mirek and some of his students this
week. More
MailboxMailbox
In this week's Mailbox: How to apply for a job at Radio Prague, applying
for a Green Card in the Czech Republic, animals in the Czech Coat of Arms,
Radio Prague's discontinued 'Black Theatre of Prague' programme. Listeners
quoted: Eghele Erijoh (Nigeria), Mick Horsfield (England), Peggy Meadows
(England)
More
Current AffairsOpinion poll reveals unusual perception of Czechs by foreigners
A recent opinion poll commissioned by the Foreign Ministry that was carried
out in six different countries - including Great Britain and the United
States - was tried to find out what the Czech Republic's image abroad was.
The outcome leaves much to be desired. Czechs are reportedly viewed as a
sort of poor nation of simple villagers. And not only that; contrary to
common stereotypes about good beer and beautiful girls, many foreigners
surprisingly view the Czech Republic as a nation of producers of sunflower
oil and tower clocks. Radio Prague's Martin Mikule called sociologist
Martin Potucek from Charles University earlier and asked him to what
extent, he believes, this kind of opinion poll reflects reality.
More
+1
