Eurofound Presents Findings From the Fourth European Working Conditions Survey for the Czech Republic

DUBLIN, May 18/PRNewswire/ --
- Workers Report Increasing Work Intensification

Four out of five workers in the Czech Republic report overall
satisfaction with their working conditions, the fourth European Working
Conditions Survey reveals. However, only one in four Czech workers thinks
they have good career prospects and only one in three workers consider
themselves well paid for the work they do, which are levels well below the EU
averages.

'The European Working Conditions Survey shows that Czech workers are by
and large content with their working conditions, although there are concerns
regarding training provision, work intensification and inflexible working
time arrangements,' says Jorma Karppinen, Director of Eurofound, the
Dublin-based EU agency. 'In comparison to the other 26 Member States of the
European Union, the Czech labour market has more similarities with those of
the former EU15 states in terms of characteristics, opportunities and
workers' perception, than with the labour markets in the ten new EU Member
States.'

However, work intensity is a growing phenomenon, showing a clear trend
towards increasing levels over the period since the previous survey in 2001.
Seven out of ten Czech workers (71.2%) report having to work to tight
deadlines or at very high speed at least one quarter of their working time,
which are the third highest levels in Europe behind Finland (73.6%) and
Sweden (71.7%). The survey also shows that pace of work is determined by the
boss and direct demand from customers in the Czech Republic.

Also, only just over a third of Czech workers (34.9%) consider themselves
to be well paid, in contrast to the average level in the former EU15 (47%)
and in EU27 countries (43.2%). More significantly, although there are
cultural differences in responding to this question, more than one third of
Czech workers (32.2%) fear losing their job in the coming six months, higher
than the average for the ten new EU Member States (25.2%) and the EU15
countries (11.3%).

Most Czech workers say they are satisfied with their work-life balance,
with four out of five workers (79.5%) able to balance working hours with
family and social commitments, although more Czech workers are contacted
about work outside working hours (31.3%) than on average in the EU (22.1%),
or in neighbouring Austria (25.1%) and Slovakia (22.4%). A significantly
higher proportion of Czech workers telework than on average in Europe (18.7%
vs 8.3% EU average), and the number of Czech workers using a computer at work
is in between the levels in the former EU15 and in the ten new EU Member
States (CZ 39.4%, EU15 49.8% and NMS 32.9%)

The findings of this survey will be presented to officials from the Czech
Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, as well as representatives from the
Czech trade unions and the employers organisations, in Prague on Monday and
Tuesday 19-20 May. Journalists are invited to a press conference outlining
the details of the findings at 12:00 on Tuesday 20 May 2008, at the
Representation of the European Commission in the Czech Republic, Jungmannova
24, CZ-111 21 Prague 1, The Czech Republic.

More information on the report and Eurofound's visit to the Czech
Republic is available at http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/events/visits.htm

Notes to Editors

The European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working
Conditions (Eurofound, http://www.eurofound.europa.eu) is a tripartite EU
body, whose role is to provide key actors in social policy making with
findings, knowledge and advice drawn from comparative research. The
Foundation was established by Council Regulation EEC No 1365/75 of 26 May
1975. The Foundation is located in Dublin, Ireland.

More news and information from the Foundation is available on:
http://www.eurofound.europa.eu

Register for regular news and information from the Foundation visit on:
http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/press/subscription.htm

For further information, contact

- M=E5ns M=E5rtensson, Press Officer, by email mma@eurofound.europa.eu or
telephone +353-1-204 3124 or mobile +353-876-593-507

- Sara Riso, Information Liaison Officer, on email
sri@eurofound.europa.eu or telephone +353-1-204-3216.

Source: Eurofound

For further information, contact: M=E5ns M=E5rtensson, Press Officer, by email mma@eurofound.europa.eu or telephone +353-1-204 3124 or mobile +353-876-593-507; Sara Riso, Information Liaison Officer, on email sri@eurofound.europa.eu or telephone +353-1-204-3216.

2008-05-18 05:01:55 0364485 PRNEWSWIRE