Русская версияThe bill will also toughen the conditions for the provision of welfare benefits and unemployment benefits.
For it to take effect, it has also to be passed by the Senate, the upper house of the Czech parliament, and signed by the president.
The green cards that the government believes will help attract to the Czech Republic the lacking workforce from abroad as of January again provoked a heated debate in the Chamber of Deputies today.
Opposition deputies again criticised the government's plan warning against the occurrence of immigrants' ghettos and against security and health risks.
Ludvik Hovorka, coalition deputy from the junior government Christian Democrats (KDU-CSL) did not support the proposal either.
The green card permit will replace a residence permit and a working visa.
Foreigners will be able to apply only for the jobs that job seekers from the Czech Republic or other EU countries will not be able to fill within 30 days since the opening of the vacancy.
Foreigners will ask for the card at the Czech embassy in their country.
Labour and Social Affairs Minister Petr Necas (senior ruling Civic Democrats, ODS) said that the bill would simplify the employment of foreigners and would decrease space for possible corruption.
He said the Czech economy would not be able to function without foreigners.
At the end of July, up to 278,300 foreigners legally worked in the Czech Republic, according to the Labour Ministry's statistics.
More than 38,000 foreigners have arrived in the Czech Republic this year.
The bill will also change the conditions for the support of the unemployed. The jobless people under 50 would receive unemployment benefits for five months instead of the current six, people between 50 and 55 for eight months instead of the current nine and people under 55 for 11 months instead of the current 12 months.
In the first two months they would receive 65 percent of the previous average net income, in the following two months one half of it and in the remaining period 45 percent.
At present, they receive half amount of their previous wage for three months and then 45 percent.
The highest monthly unemployment benefit this year is 12,249 crowns. It will not change.
Ppeople who in the last six months left the jobs offered by labour offices without serious reasons would not receive any unemployment benefits under the new bill.
It also stipulates lowering unemployment benefits to the people who refused to undergo re-training courses or to do a certain amount of community work.
If they show willingness to community work their benefit could be increased.
($1=16.455 Czech crowns)
(Ceske Noviny)
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