Czech Human Rights Minister informs mayors about the future of the Agency for Social Inclusion

Czech Human Rights Minister Jiří Dienstbier met today with 14 mayors of cities and towns collaborating with the Czech Government Agency for Social Inclusion, accord to a press release from his ministry. The Agency is currently in a crisis:  Most of its employees have protested the minister’s dismissal of the director of the Agency and disagree with the planned changes to its work.  

This is all happening at a time when the Agency has established collaborations with other cities and billions of crowns for combating social exclusion are scheduled to begin flowing from EU funds. Employees of the Agency went on strike last week and then suspended their decision on whether to continue their strike until after tomorrow’s meeting with Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka.  

According to the press release, the mayors are hoping the situation will be calmed as quickly as possible and most of them respect the minister’s right to dismiss the director. Representatives of the City of Brno were critical on this point today, delivering a letter to the minister from Deputy Mayor Matěj Hollan.  

According to the press release, the minister assured the mayors that he is not planning any changes to the work of the Agency this year. A selection procedure for the next director of the Agency is happening this week and the new director will be announced by the end of the week.