CORONAVIRUS: Legal implications for businesses in the Czech Republic

Pursuant to Section 106 (1) of the Labour Code, an employee has the right be assured of occupational health and safety protection at work (hereinafter referred to as "OHS"), even during a pandemic.

When and how can contact with a counterparty be avoided and the document signed electronically? Is it possible to consider the electronic way of signing relevant for the eligibility of such a conclusion of a contract and how does Czech legislation and case-law treat this?

The government explicitly stated in the Emergency Resolution that the Health Ministry’s existing emergency measures are not to be affected by the state of emergency, which means that they remain valid and must be observed. All the Health Ministry’s special measures introduced valid after the emergency was announced must be observed as well. A brief summary (updated on 19 March 2020) is outlined below.

By Resolution No. 250 dated 18 March 2020, the Czech Government set rules and established a legal framework for tracking (on an indicative basis) the whereabouts of individuals in which COVID-19 has been confirmed. The Minister of Health is the authority assigned to implement the measure.

From what point exactly is the spreading of COVID-19 a criminal offence?  Is it only intentional spreading that is punishable or is negligence also a criminal offence?  What is at stake? What are the aggravating circumstances and when do the penalties increase? And can these criminal offences also be committed by a legal entity?

In connection with the coronavirus emergency, the Czech government has approved a liberation tax package aimed at mitigating the consequences of the emergency. What does it contain?

Update 18 March 2020

The government explicitly stated in the Emergency Resolution that the Health Ministry’s existing emergency measures are not to be affected by the state of emergency, which means that they remain valid and must be observed. All the Health Ministry’s special measures introduced valid after the emergency was announced must be observed as well. A brief summary (updated on 18 March 2020) is outlined below.

Can it take place? And can it be convened? Do crisis measures contain an exception for meetings of the statutory organs of the company (e.g. board meetings)? What are the parameters of due and correct business conduct for a manager during a state of emergency?

The current situation has a considerable impact on employment relations. What should employers know in this regard to be best equipped for this challenging situation?

Many governmental regulations may prevent contractual obligations from being duly fulfilled. How can you best handle the performance, or more precisely, the non-performance of your contracts?

List as of 14 March 2020

The Government in its decision announcing the state of emergency explicitly declared that all valid and effective special measures issued by the Ministry of Healthcare shall not be affected by the state of emergency. Accordingly, all such special measures must be complied with.

List of measure as of 14 March 2020

What does "state of emergency" actually mean and what are the powers of the Government in the regard? Can someone claim damages incurred in relation to the state of emergency?