Czech Republic: Governmental Antivirus Program Reactivated

The Government of the Czech Republic has reactivated its Antivirus Program for the period from 1 November 2021 to 28 February 2022. Under this Program, employers are entitled to apply for a financial contribution from the state budget for employees´ wages / wage compensation.

An employer may submit the application for contribution from the Antivirus Program in case of an ordered quarantine and isolation (80% of the paid wage and insurance premiums) or for related economic difficulties associated with COVID-19 (60% of the paid wage and insurance premiums).

The conditions for application are as follows:

• its employees are still in an employment relationship with the employer at the time when the employer submits the application, and they were not served with a termination notice.
• wages / wage compensation and compulsory premiums have been duly paid.
• the employer must also submit all the required documents.

The Antivirus Program is divided into two regimes – regime A and regime B.

Within regime A, for ordered quarantine and isolation, the contribution will be provided in the amount of 80% of the paid wage and insurance premiums, up to a maximum of CZK 39,000 per employee.

Within regime B, for related economic difficulties associated with COVID-19, the contribution will be provided in the amount of 60% of paid wages and insurance premiums, up to a maximum of CZK 29,000 per employee.

The contribution is provided only if the employer has already paid wages or compensation to its employees and duly paid the compulsory insurance premiums for public health insurance and social security, and the contribution to the state employment policy. Furthermore, it is required that the applying employer´s employees are still in an employment relationship with the employer at the time when the employer submits the application, and they were not served with a termination notice.

The application for contribution can be submitted via the web application, data boxes, or by e-mail signed with a recognised electronic signature.