Lower House supports transfer of injury insurance to state

The Lower House has passed a bill on injury insurance transferring compensation for work-related injuries and illnesses from commercial insurance companies to the state. Under the law, the Czech Social Security Administration will take over responsibility. At present, employers in the Czech Republic pay injury insurance fees to one of the two insurance companies authorised with the task, under the country's labour code.

The European Union, critical of the situation, proposed two solutions - either allowing all health insurance companies to pay out compensation or to transfer the duty to the state. Some observers have criticised the bill for not being sufficiently transparent.

Author: Jan Velinger