MMR: The functions of the new construction administration can be ensured with half of the current employees

Prague – The functionality of the emerging central building authority can be ensured with roughly 50 to 60 percent of the current number of employees in building offices, according to the Ministry for Regional Development (MMR). According to the ministry's estimates, about 30 percent of employees would transfer to the newly established offices without any problems. Another 30 percent are considering this option, while approximately one third, including those in pre-retirement or retirement age, do not plan to transition to the new system at all. This was stated to reporters today by the Minister for Regional Development Zuzana Mrázová (ANO) and her deputy Pavel Kryštof.

The ministry aims to recruit new officials during the preparation of the new building authority, which is being introduced through the discussion of the amendment to the building act. According to Mrázová, the campaign for recruiting employees should start sometime this fall or next year at the earliest. "Building offices across the country are already seeking new officials, and we will be doing the same. We believe that we will be able to stabilize the entire personnel situation, whether with existing officials or those we find during recruitment processes,” Mrázová said.

Currently, there are 638 building offices in the Czech Republic, according to earlier MMR data. After the approval of the amendment to the building act and the establishment of the central building authority, there should be 205 regional offices, 14 regional development offices, and one main territorial development office based in Prague. In addition to regional offices, detached workplaces will also be created.

According to Kryštof, MMR should have specific numbers regarding the capacities at the offices available around the end of August. In the case of a significant departure of employees from the offices, the ministry has a backup plan prepared to replace the capacities at the offices, according to the deputy. For example, in the event of a sudden shortfall of specialists, their duties could be covered by other employees from regional or other offices.

In the future, a potential shortage of workers should also be helped by the functional digitization of the building process, according to Kryštof. However, according to the MMR schedule, it is expected to be functional only by 2030, which is two years after the new building authority is expected to be operational. According to the government commissioner for the implementation of building law, Hana Landová, the amendment to the building act overall simplifies the permitting process compared to the current version, thus also facilitating the work of officials.

MMR's estimates about the number of employees who would like to transition to the new system after the change in the building authority contradict, for example, the results of a survey by the Trade Union of State Authorities and Organizations. According to this survey, about two-thirds of employees do not wish to transition to the planned Office for Territorial Development. In the survey, 27 percent of office employees stated that they do not plan to switch to the new system and expect to continue working at the existing municipal, city, or regional offices. An additional 40 percent of respondents indicated that they would leave the system completely in the event of reorganization and seek other employment or possibly retire. The survey published in March involved 1,100 employees of building offices.