Answers of the Movement Christian and Labour in the Czech Republic (KAP) for the White Book

The European Movement of Christian Workers EBCA prepares a White Book about the problems of the social security in Europa. We inform about the situation in the Czech Republic from the point of view of our KAP.

 1a)  What are the main problems of social security in the Czech Republic?
 The Czech Republic is one of the post-communist countries which has become since May 1,  2004 member of the European Union. After 1989 its former economic system has been transformed to the market economy and also the political democratic system has been re-established.  

Up to the present time a consistent reform of social, health care and fiscal systems has not yet been realised. Possible solutions are being discussed, respective suggestions usually are oriented towards a liberal solution  („everybody has to take care of himself, who is not able to do that is responsible for that only himself“). 

A quarrelsome inconsistent heterogeneous political scene takes into pragmatic consideration practically only the horizon until the nearest parliamentary elections.   Official statements present a growing economics, however a question arises in whose profit is it going when the lack of needed financial funds continues to exist. 

Citizens begin to be tired and disgusted by political situation, when party-spirited and personal ambitions and profit stand higher than public interests, prosperity and responsibility to the public. The growing social insecurity together with the apathy of citizens opens the way to various negative phenomena (e.g. feeble participation in elections – by the way relatively increasing the importance of the communist party; absence of needed values and priorities, criminality, drogues, prostitution etc.). Negative attitudes represent also a possible danger for the confidence to the European Union.

  1b)  What are the 3 main problems and their consequences?
 

There are many problems, their convergence with other developed Western countries occurs as well as a loss of illusions the population had after 1989. 

From the point of view of social securities the most important problems are as follows:

1) the threat of unemployment: in the present time the average for the whole country is slightly under 10%, but significant differences exist in the regions (somewhere the unemployment is arising up to 20%) and also between various groups of population; the social insecurity concerns also young absolvents of schools as well as people behind their supposed working efficiency zenith (45 – 50 years) who after having been sent away from their employment (in many situations without any proper shortcomings) can find a new job with great difficulties only;

2) continual delaying of reforms of social (rents), health care and fiscal systems; 

3) crisis of stability and existence of families connected not only with the aforementioned problems (unsatisfactory solution of housing problems for young people, retired and poor people feel to be threatened by possible introducing deregulated hiring for their flats planned to be introduced), but also with the decreased influence of religion (the Czech Republic belongs to the most atheist countries in Europe, however in some regions a rather high religious sensitivity still exists).

Consequences:

ad 1)  poverty growth: the extending abyss between rich and poor people increases social danger for some groups of population  (retired people, handicapped persons, single mothers); the incomes of approx. 80% of population are below the country average (this parameter is really very problematic);

ad 2)  decreasing confidence in institutions (government, political parties, local authorities, lack of interest for general welfare);

ad 3)  low natality (only 1.1 child for 1 mother), high number of divorces (practically every second marriage is finally divorced).

  

1c)  What will be the solution of problems by the state, trade unions?

 Various methods of reforms are discussed across the whole political spectrum; left-oriented  political parties emphasise necessity of a greater state participation whereas on the other hand for parties on the right side responsibility of and financing by every individual citizen are demanded. Christian party emphasises solidarity and subsidiarity but a consensus with other parties seems to be very difficult (co-operation with extremely left-oriented parties being denied). 

Trade unions movement is very split and the practical role of Christian trade unions in the society is not at all significant because of their very limited membership basis. 

After a recent internal crisis of the government political parties were unable to make an agreement about advanced elections and therefore because of the present distribution of political forces in the parliament any principal solution of problems apparently can be expected only after the elections in the mid-2006 (nowadays a very fragile coalition supported by only 101 from 200 votes exists).

The state organs really admit that the population is growing old. A concept of the national family friendly politics has been elaborated suggesting recipe how to solve serious problems (lodging, allowances for children, mother leaves, flexible working hours for women etc.). Official legal recognition of homosexual partnerships on the family level is being discussed (the parliament has refused last suggestions but with a very feeble majority depending on one vote only, therefore pressures for legal recognition continue).

 
2a) The three most important demands of our movement in this area
 1. A large moral and financial support and stabilisation of young families with children; 

2. dignity of working should be ensured:  just and fair remuneration and conditions for working, support of an active integration of employees into the economic process in convenient participative forms (e.g. exploiting experiences of enterprise councils, shareholders participation, a new legal delimitation of the trade unions and associations role in employees problems); social dialogue; cultivating mutual employers – employees relations; orienting entrepreneurial activities towards the service denying profit as the exclusive motivation;

3. a reasonable rent reform excluding any further decrease of real rents, ensuring a respectable situation of senior citizens in the society; health care and lodging accessibility as well as removing any discrimination.

   

2b) Have you any idea how to solve these demands?

 Our ideas are based on the social doctrine of the Church which is to be promoted by some appropriate forms. For the moment there is a lack of means for that (including lobbing). It is extremely difficult to attract the attention of the media majority what is connected with the presently still unsatisfactory political culture, with the infiltrating corruption milieu, with the unfair access of media (giving priority or exclusivity only to sensations and short-term profit) as well as with the atheist orientation of the population majority.
 

2c) Are you organising actions concerning these topics?

 KAP organises in its local groups some talks to these topics, furthermore usually twice in a year seminars with international participation and with prominent lecturers (including foreign experts) are organised at the whole country level. Our members take part in analogous seminars and conferences in other European countries what makes it possible to ensure mutual information exchange and interrelated co-operation. In January 2005 KAP organised in Brno a whole-European MTCE meeting. KAP has its own web pages, some internal publications with materials from seminars are published as well, informative reports for MTCE and EZA are prepared. KAP about its stand-points and recommendations also informs the parliament, political parties, non-governmental organisations and outstanding personalities of the public life. KAP  delegates take part in the public seminars organised by the parliament.

In the present period KAP has assumed to initiate a national network of organisations oriented to Christianity and general welfare in order to promote their Christian stand-points in the whole society. Efforts are also made to create an international network for strengthening social dialogue in Europe.


3a) What myths exist in the domain of social security?

 There are many myths, especially the following myths are to be presented: 

1. Uselessness and unimportance of trade unions. 

2. Illusions about good intentions of all foreign investors arriving to help our national economy to ensure a sustainable employment.

3. The growth of economics oriented toward achieving ruthless maximum profits a tout prix will cause the growth of financial means for social security purposes.

4. Pragmatic approach Carpe diem is to be established as a life style of individuals, families and whole countries (but the insolvency of the population is growing too, mostly without any responsibility for long-term obligations; thanks to aggressive advertisements people borrow money to buy needless goods).

5. Because the population is dying out and because the lack of people in productive age there is an increasing shortage of funds needed for the rents system (but the principal error consists in the bad distribution system).  

6. The population is in favour of the social dumping: transferring industry from the developed countries leads to ensuring jobs to the local population in poorer states (but only a temporary advantage may occur because in the frame of globalisation processes the rapacious capital will be brought to other countries with lower wages and lower prices for raw materials etc.).

7. Confidence to truthfulness of media (their sophisticated manipulation remains invisible).

8. Care for responsible working conditions of employees and their personal development is a useless waste of money which cannot help to the development of economics. 

9. Nothing can be done in removing the crisis of families and in improving low natality (it is a personal problem of individuals).

  

3b) What can be done against that?

 Our lectures and seminars try to explain the existing myths in accordance with the reality. That needs to organise some medial campaign and to get needed financial funds for it. It is also necessary to find courageous well known personalities of the public life able to help us in promoting and realising the needed changes.

Another support is also expected from creating an international network of organisations oriented to Christianity and general welfare in the frame of the European Union.