[Czech Republic] Leave of absence with wage compensation for camp leaders

It’s the holiday season and many children go away to camp. The Labour Code takes into account the fact that camp leaders, instructors, counsellors, etc. often have to be released from work for their activities, giving them the possibility to take up to 3 weeks off per calendar year. This leave may be divided into several parts, but the sum of the parts must not exceed the 3 weeks. From 2021, one week of this leave may be paid.

In order for the leave to be granted (whether paid or unpaid), the employee must have worked consistently and without pay with children or young people for at least 1 year before the leave is granted. If serious operational reasons prevent this, the employer may refuse to grant the leave.

Conditions for wage compensation

Wage compensation for one week’s leave is only due if the event is organized by a legal entity which has been registered in the public register of legal and natural persons for at least 5 years and work with children and young people is its main activity. The employee is obliged to prove this to the employer.

The maximum amount of wage compensation granted shall be the average wage in the national economy for the 1^st to 3^rd quarter of the calendar year preceding the calendar year in which the leave of absence is granted, as announced under the law regulating employment. For 2021, we will therefore count on the amount of CZK 34,611 (bill No 574/2020 of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs) as the maximum limit.

The employer may then request the Czech Social Security Office to reimburse the wage compensation provided. The application must be filled in on the website of the Czech Social Security Office and it must be accompanied by evidence of the provision of wage compensation and fulfilment of the conditions for its provision.