MEETINGS
31/05/2023
3rd Thematic working seminar, 16-17.5.2023
The meeting began with PhDr. Tomáš Majtner, PhD., welcoming the participants on behalf of the beneficiary and introducing the Association of Construction Entrepreneurs as the project's beneficiary. Jana Chobotská provided an overview of the project's content, and Doc. Michael Kroh introduced the first partner, the Norwegian Confederation of Employers NHO. Mr. Augustin, vice-chairman of OS Stavba, introduced the second partner.
The main focus of the morning session was on the presentation of the analysis and research report created within the project, presented by doc. Kroh. After lunch, Ms. Jana Chobotská updated the participants on the progress and results of the March study trip to Oslo, where a thematic meeting with Norwegian partners from NGOs and trade unions (LO) took place.
The second day centered on the presentation of the current state of social dialogue in the Czech Republic compared to the Nordic model applied in Norway, with doc. Kroh, Dr. Majtner, and Mr. Augustin as presenters. Doc. Kroh introduced the individual topics of the project, which triggered a lively discussion among the participants.
Key extracts from the discussion included Zítko's observation about the decreasing number of higher-level collective agreements, attributing it to the fragmentation of employers' organizations. Augustin advocated for unifying the right to leave based on the Norwegian model, emphasizing the positive perception of collective agreements by 80% of the public in Norway. Majtner noted the strong support for social dialogue by the SPS Training Institute through projects.
Grucl highlighted Norway's advantage in oil and gas deposits and stressed the applicability of the Norwegian experience in the Czech context. Vašíček pointed out the negative perception of trade unions by some Czech entrepreneurs. Zítko expressed concerns about potential attempts to eliminate social dialogue in the Czech Republic, citing the government's plan to cancel tax deductions for trade union contributions.
Vojtíšek underscored the need to address the changes brought by Construction 4.0 and suggested intensifying bipartite dialogue to restructure the sector. Švehla found Norway's individual ID system interesting and potentially beneficial for improving health and safety. Janoušek recommended that large companies take a leadership role in social responsibility and limit the number of subcontractors to improve employees' situations.
Majtner highlighted the specific challenges in the construction industry regarding gender equality, emphasizing the importance of socio-economic, rather than biological, foundations for achieving equality. Kroh concluded that many Norwegian experiences can be applied in the Czech context and suggested unions become more active in enforcing workers' rights to become equal partners with employers and the government. He also proposed an alternative plan to the government's cost-saving measures, which would be more socially sensitive and not interfere with necessary subsidies.