EXPAT LIFE EMPLOYMENT IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC
MATERIÁLY PRO UČITELE
With respect to the immigration requirements thanks to the membership in the European Union and the Schengen Area we must strictly differentiate between the citizens of the EU member states and European economic area member states and the citizens of other countries. With respect to when I say EU nationals, I of course mean also Swiss people, people from Iceland and Norway. For EU nationals basically there are no immigration obligations, with respect to the fact that they are not required to have any work permits or residency visas in the Czech Republic. They can stay easily in the Czech Republic from the very beginning. They can work, they can perform selfemployment activity etc. And they do not have any paperwork. The only obligation for EU nationals is if they would like to stay in the Czech Republic continually for more than 30 days they must register with the Czech foreigners police. This obligation is not commonly known by the EU nationals but this is the law. The law says that and if this duty, if there is a breach of this duty, the foreigners police can penalize that. The penalty is up to CZK 3,000 as I remember for the breach of the law. But this is the only mandatory issue connected with the arrival of EU nationals. If on the other hand, the EU national would like to stay in the Czech Republic for more than three months continually there is not the obligation but the possibility to apply for a temporary residence permit. It's more...it's called the temporary residence permit but it's more a confirmation than a permit. And this is not an obligatory document to be owned by the EU national. On the other hand, in certain situation it is necessary to have it. Such situations may be for example purchase of a real estate in the Czech Republic, registration of a car in the Czech Republic, arrangement for a parking card issued by the City of Prague for those blue zones etc. So, it's not obligatory but it might be worth having it (AUDIO-to have it). For non-EU nationals, on the other hand, there arise many obligations connected with their arrival. For nationals of certain countries where there is bilateral treaty or some kind of document allowing them to stay in the Czech Republic without visa for a certain period...they can stay here in the Czech Republic usually for the period up to three months without visa. However, they must bear in mind that such a without-visa stay is allowed only for tourist purposes and for the civil servants of their home country. If they would like to be employed here, perform self-employment activity or whatever, it is not possible to do it without a visa. So if a gainful activity is performed in the Czech Republic by a non-EU national, there are always immigration requirements and the stay without a visa for up to three months doesn't cover that. The visas which can be applied for: there is a short term visa for gainful activity, while the purpose of stay can be employment or self-employment. This short term visa is issued for the period of up to ninety days. The application is filed at the Czech Embassy abroad. For some individuals it must be in their home country - there is a decree stipulating the list of the countries citizens of which must file the application in their home country. Then there might be applied for a long-term visa which is again for the long-term visa an individual applies at the Czech Embassy abroad maybe will be liable to apply in his home country This long term visa is issued in the period of one hundred and twenty days from filing the application, as a maximum, is valid for one year and can be renewed. Then, once the individual, the non-EU national, is staying in the Czech Republic based on a long term visa and would like to continue with his stay over fifteen months in total, such individual is entitled to apply for a so-called long-term residency permit which can be issued for the period up to two years. Again the extension is later on possible. But as I said for non-EU nationals it's crucial to have the immigration documents because without them they can stay in the Czech
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Republic only for a short-term period and only as tourists With respect to work permit as I said non-EU nationals, sorry, EU nationals are not liable to have it, whilst non-EU nationals who would like to perform employment activity in the Czech Republic are liable to have a valid work permit before they start working here. This obligation covers also their employers because if the company employs a non-EU national without a work permit, the company gets into trouble definitely. And there is a huge fine which can be assessed by the Czech Labor Office when this fact is discovered. The work permit is not applicable only for local employments. That means if a non-EU national concludes a contract, the employment contract with a Czech company but also in case of assignments, it means that if for example a US based company employs people and assigns them to start business in the Czech Republic for such assignment of US individuals also the work permit is required. The work permit is usually issued for the period of one year, in certain professions like IT etc. it was possible in the recent years for the period for up to two years. Right now the labor offices due to the economical crisis are again more strict and it's not very easy to employ a foreigner in the Czech Republic if he is liable to have a work permit. It must be proven that such individual is really the only person who can hold the position and cannot be replaced by a Czech individual with the same skills.
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S ohledem na imigrační požadavky vyplývající z členství v Evropské unii a Schengenském prostoru musíme přísně rozlišovat mezi občany členských státu EU a členských států Evropského ekonomického prostoru a občany jiných zemí. Když říkám příslušníci EU, mám tím, samozřejmě, na mysli i Švýcary, Islanďany a Nory. Pro občany EU v podstatě neexistují žádné imigrační povinnosti s ohledem na fakt, že se po nich v ČR nevyžaduje pracovní povolení nebo pobytové vízum. Mohou v ČR jednoduše pobývat od samého začátku. Mohou pracovat, mohou vykonávat činnost jako OSVČ atd. A nemají s tím žádné papírování. Jediná povinnost pro občany EU vzniká, chtějí-li v ČR pobývat nepřetržitě po více než 30 dní – pak se musí zaregistrovat u cizinecké policie ČR. Tato povinnost není mezi občany EU všeobecně známa, ale takový je zákon. Zákon to říká, a jestliže tato povinnost, jestliže dojde k porušení této povinnosti, cizinecká policie může uložit pokutu. Pokud si vzpomínám, pokuta za takové porušení je až 3,000 Kč. Ale to je jediná povinnost spojená s příjezdem občanů EU. Na druhou stranu, chce-li občan EU pobývat v ČR nepřetržitě více než 3 měsíce, nemá povinnost ale možnost požádat o povolení k dočasnému pobytu. Říká se tomu sice povolení k dočasnému pobytu, ale je to spíše potvrzení než povolení. A není to povinný dokument, který by měl mít občan EU. Na druhou stranu je ho v některých situacích třeba mít. Mohou to být situace jako například koupě nemovitosti v ČR, registrace automobilu v ČR, vyřízení parkovací karty vydávané magistrátem města Prahy pro modré zóny atd. Takže povinné to není, ale je dobré mít ho. U státních příslušníků některých zemí, které mají bilaterální dohodu nebo nějaký dokument dovolující jim pobývat v ČR po nějakou dobu bez víza... mohou tady v ČR obvykle pobývat až po dobu 3 měsíců bez víza. Nicméně musí mít na paměti, že takový bezvízový pobyt je povolen pro účely turismu a pro státní zaměstnance té dané země. Kdyby zde chtěli být zaměstnáni nebo pracovat jako OSVČ nebo něco takového, bez víza to nejde. Takže je-li v ČR prováděna zisková činnost státního příslušníka země mimo EU, vždy existují imigrační požadavky a tříměsíční bezvízový pobyt od nich nezbavuje. Víza, o které je možné zažádat. Existuje krátkodobé vízum pro výdělečnou činnost, u něhož může být účelem pobytu zaměstnání nebo činnost OSVČ. Toto krátkodobé vízum se vydává na dobu až 90-ti dnů. Žádost se podává na české velvyslanectví v zahraničí. Pro některé to musí být v zemi, jíž jsou občany - je vyhláška, která určuje seznam zemí, jejichž občané musí podat žádost ve svém domovském státě. Pak se dá požádat o dlouhodobé vízum, kde opět platí, že se o něj žádá v zahraničí na českém velvyslanectví a někteří o něj musí požádat ve své domovské zemi. Toto dlouhodobé vízum se vydává ve lhůtě 120 dní od data podání žádosti, jakožto maximum, je platné jeden rok a může být obnoveno. Potom, jakmile jedinec, občan země mimo EU, pobývá v ČR na základě dlouhodobého víza a rád by ve svém pobytu pokračoval po celkovou dobu více než 15 měsíců, tento je pak oprávněn požádat o povolení k dlouhodobému pobytu, které může být vydáno na dobu až dvou let. Opět je zde možné pozdější prodloužení. Ale jak jsem řekla, pro občany zemí mimo EU je nezbytné mít imigrační dokumenty, protože bez nich mohou v ČR pobývat jen po krátkou dobu a jako turisté. S ohledem na pracovní povolení, jak jsem řekla, občané zemí mimo EU, promiňte, občané zemí EU je nemají povinnost mít, zatímco občané zemí mimo EU, kteří by rádi V ČR vykonávali zaměstnání, jsou povinni mít platné pracovní povolení, než zde začnou pracovat. Tato povinnost se také týká jejich zaměstnavatelů, protože, jestli firma zaměstnává občana ze země mimo EU bez pracovního povolení, dostane se určitě do problémů. A úřad práce v ČR 4
může udělit obrovskou pokutu, když je tato skutečnost odhalena. Toto pracovní povolení se netýká jen zaměstnání u české firmy. To znamená, že když občan země mimo EU uzavře smlouvu, zaměstnaneckou smlouvu s českou společností, ale také v případě pracovního pověření, to znamená, že jestliže např. firma se sídlem v USA někoho zaměstná a pracovně ho vyšle, aby založil firmu v ČR, pro takové pracovní pověření potřebuje občan USA také pracovní povolení. Takové pracovní povolení se vydává na dobu jednoho roku, ale v některých profesích jako IT atd. bylo v nedávných letech možné získat povolení až na dva roky. V současné době jsou úřady práce kvůli krizi zase přísnější a není lehké v ČR zaměstnat cizince, jestliže potřebuje pracovní povolení. Musí se prokázat, že takový člověk je opravdu jediný, kdo může dané místo zastávat a nelze jej nahradit českým občanem se stejnými dovednostmi.
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EXERCISE 1 Discuss and share your answers to the following questions: 1. What was your longest stay abroad? Share some of your experiences being in another culture and country. 2. Would you like to study or work in another country? Why or why not? If yes, what country or countries would you prefer? 3. Do you speak any other languages than your native tongue? Do you know any foreigners personally? If so, how did you meet them? 4. What does the word xenophobia mean to you? How do you notice it in the Czech Republic? What do you recommend can be done about it?
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EXERCISE 2 Are these statements TRUE or FALSE? 1. People from Norway have the same legal status in Czech Republic like other EU citizens. 2. EU citizens working in Czech Republic for more than 30 days in a row must register with the foreigner‘s police. 3. You must have a temporary residence permit if you are from the EU and work in Czech Republic. 4. Non-EU citizens can stay in Czech Republic without a visa for three months. 5. Non EU-citizens don‘t need a work permit in the Czech Republic.
EXERCISE 3 Listen and fill in the missing text. 1. With respect to the immigration requirements thanks to the membership in the European Union and the Schengen Area we must strictly differentiate between the citizens of the EU member states and . 2. For EU nationals basically there are no immigration obligations, with respect to the fact that they are not required to have any work permits or residency visas in the Czech Republic. 3. The penalty is up to CZK 3,000 as I remember for the breach of the law. But this is the only mandatory issue connected with the arrival of EU nationals. 4. For nationals of certain countries where there is bilateral treaty or some kind of document
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5. The application is filed at the Czech Embassy abroad. 6. …such individual is entitled to apply for a so-called long-term residency permit which can be issued for the period up to two years. Again the extension is later on possible. 7
EXERCISE 4 Match the following English expressions with their Czech equivalent.
1. PERMIT
a)
Žádost, přihláška
7. EXTENSION
g) Podat (žádost)
2. CITIZEN
b)
Dočasný
8. APPLICATION
h) Vydat (doklad)
3. OBLIGATORY
c)
Prodloužení
9. TO FILE
i) Povinný
4. REQUIREMENT
d) Oprávněný k
10. TO ISSUE
j) Povinný
5. PENALTY
e)
Požadavek
11. TEMPORARY
k) Pokuta, trest
6. MANDATORY
f)
Povolení
12. ENTITLED TO
l) Občan
PHRASE BOOK Use the vocabulary list above to develop questions you could ask the Manager in a mock interview. With a partner, take turns being the Manager. Role play asking and answering your questions.
APPLICATION
In the case of the foreign police, it is a standardized form regulated legal codes according to the nationality of individuals and their intention for work and stay in CR. Here, the word takes on a completely different meaning than in the mobile and Internet industry.
MANDATORY
Something that is required by legal means or by conforming to socio-cultural practices.
OBLIGATORY
A requirement that must be followed in all cases and is non-negotiable.
PENALTY
A negative consequence from non-conformance to a particular requirement.
TEMPORARILY
An action that is taken on behalf of a person or situation but which is enacted during a limited period of time. 8
EXERCISE 5 GROUP DISCUSSION 1. Some groups claim that foreigners “steal” work from locals. Divide into two groups. One group should try to defend this opinion while the other should argue to disprove it. What arguments can you use? Which group is more persuasive. Why? 2. President Klaus previously expressed some doubts about the existence of the EU. Do you agree or disagree? Why or why not? Explain your reasons and discuss with the others. 3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of being a member of the EU when it comes to employment and education? 4. Do you think it’s crucial to speak the language of the country where you work? Should there be mandatory language tests for the immigrants/expatriates?
EXERCISE 6 ROLE PLAY 1.
Act out a mock job interview in England for the following positions: financial advisor, marketing director, manager, sales director, IT consultant Decide on what kind of company it is and what the position will demand. Create “boards” of 2-3 members from the company who will decide on your qualifications and whether to hire you as a Czech applicant. What questions would they ask you and what question would you ask about the position abroad?
2.
Make pairs. Imagine you are at the Czech foreigners police. One of you should act as a non-Czech person trying to get a work permit for a job you are sure you are qualified to do. The other person assumes a role as a strict policeman/woman. Which team can come up with the funniest dialogue?
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EXERCISE 7 GRAMMAR AND SYNTAX TEST 1.
The speaker in the video said the following sentence: “This obligation is not commonly known by the EU nationals but this is the law.” How is the above sentence different from the following one? “ The EU nationals commonly don’t know about this obligation but this is the law.” Discuss with your classmates. Create new sentences using ‘is not…known’ and ‘don’t know’. When would you use one and not the other?
2.
Change the following sentences from the active to passive tense. A) They produce Volvo in Sweden. B) We may exhaust our oil deposits in 20 years. C) A lot of people have seen this film. D) We are writing our homework right now.
3.
If you use by in passive sentences, you speak about people who caused the action described. If you use with, you speak about a tool or instrument. Use by or with to translate the following sentences. A) Oběť byla zastřelena touto pistolí. B) Oběť byla zastřelena tímto mužem. C) Okno bylo rozbito cihlou. D) Okno bylo rozbito vandalem.
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WHILE YOU WATCH EXERCISE 2 1. TRUE, 2. TRUE, 3. FALSE, 4. TRUE, 5. FALSE
EXERCISE 3
1. With respect to the immigration requirements thanks to the membership in the European Union
and the Schengen Area we must strictly differentiate between the citizens of the EU member states and European economic area member states and ... 2. For EU nationals basically there are no immigration obligations, with respect to the fact that they are not required to have any work permits or residency visas in the Czech Republic. 3. The penalty is up to CZK 3,000 as I remember for the breach of the law. But this is the only mandatory issue connected with the arrival of EU nationals. 4. For nationals of certain countries where there is bilateral treaty or some kind of document … 5. The application is filed at the Czech Embassy abroad. 6. …such individual is entitled to apply for a so-called long-term residency permit which can be issued for the period up to two years. Again the extension is later on possible.
AFTER YOU WATCH EXERCISE 4 1F, 2L, 3I/J, 4E, 5K, 6I/J, 7C, 8A, 9G, 10H, 11B, 12D
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AFTER YOU WATCH EXERCISE 7 1.
The passive sentence is more formal or official than the active one. The meaning is identical.
2.
A) Volvo is produced in Sweden. B) Our oil deposits may be exhausted in 20 years. C) This film has been seen by a lot of people. D) Our homework is being written right now.
3.
A) The victim was shot dead with this gun. B) The victim was shot dead by this man. C) The window was broken with a brick. D) The window was broken by a vandal.
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