Czech news in brief for August 29: Thursday's top headlines

Labor and Social Affairs Minister Marian Jurečka has announced that by late 2025 nearly all welfare benefits in the Czech Republic will be available for digital application. From January, job seekers will be able to register and apply for unemployment benefits online. A new benefit will replace four existing ones starting in July 2025, also with digital processing. Additionally, care allowances and benefits for the disabled will be available online from September 2025. Since last year, over 182,000 people have utilized electronic applications.

According to the Czech Statistical Office (CZSO), the number of primary school teachers in Czechia has grown by 16.5 percent over the past five years, outpacing a 6.3 percent increase in pupils. CZSO analyst Vendula Kašparová noted that the pupil-teacher ratio fell from 14.6 in 2018 to 13.3 in the last school year. The proportion of teachers aged 60 and over has risen from 5 percent in 2013 to 13 percent in 2023, with a more marked rise in secondary schools.

Labor and Social Affairs Minister Marian Jurečka announced today that the five-party government coalition has agreed to slow the planned increase in retirement age, rising by one month per year instead of the initially proposed two months. Coalition members of parliament will include this adjustment in the pension reform bill next week. The reform aims to gradually increase the retirement age above 65, indexed to life expectancy. The pension system faces a growing deficit, with expenditures surpassing revenues as the population ages, necessitating sustainable adjustments.

According to members of non-governmental organization Globsec, its 19th international security conference will take place in Prague from Friday to Sunday, beginning with a pop music festival on Štvanice Island tonight, where some participants and Globsec president Robert Vass will attend. Czech President Petr Pavel will open the conference on Friday, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also speaking. Around 10 heads of state and 20 defense and foreign ministers from Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia will discuss "calming the storm" in global relations.

Slavia Prague football team failed to advance to the main stage of the Champions League after losing 0:2 in the opening match against Lille. Despite winning the home rematch 2:1, they were unable to erase the two-goal loss. As a result, they will play in the European League instead, with a bonus of EUR 4.31 million (CZK 107 million). The team will find out their opponents for the league phase on Friday. Coach Jindřich Trpišovskýmade two changes to the starting lineup, and the team entered the match with a sold-out crowd at Eden Stadium.

Minister of the Interior Vít Rakušan will announce plans for the transformation of Czech Post in a press conference today. The state enterprise will be split into a branch operator and postal service Balíkovna, which will handle commercial parcel services. The post office will also receive a postal license for the next five years and will be compensated by the state for operating 2,900 branches and providing basic services. Last year, Czech Post reduced its loss and expects to break even this year.

The Czech Republic is requesting a postponement of the deadline for complying with the new EU regulation against deforestation, as some companies do not have enough information about the requirements. The regulation will affect thousands of Czech companies and aims to reduce the EU's contribution to global deforestation. The Ministry of Agriculture is demanding more time for companies to familiarize themselves with the necessary tools. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also trying to inform companies through seminars.

The Digital and Information Agency (DIA) warns about fake websites imitating the Citizen Portal, Citizen Identity Portal, and Public Administration Portal, which can lead to financial fraud. These fraudulent links have been found in internet search engines, SMS, and emails. The DIA's Cybersecurity Department is actively working to remove these fake sites and advises citizens to be cautious when using these portals and to report any suspicious websites. The only correct addresses of the listed portals are: identitaobcana.cz, obcan.portal.gov.cz, and portal.gov.cz.

According to Upgates, a company providing solutions for online stores, 60 percent of Czechs make online purchases through mobile phones. This trend is increasing every year, with 70 percent of e-shop visits currently coming from mobile devices. Upgates marketing manager Michal Benatzky explains that people tend to make smaller, quick purchases on their phones and larger, more thorough purchases on their computers. Other companies, such as Rohlík and Alza, have also seen a rise in mobile app usage for shopping.