At the Christmas party of the Department of Labor and Social Affairs, which was taking place during the shooting at the Faculty of Arts, there was drinking during working hours. It was revealed by the State Office of Labor Inspection. Officials drank beer and wine and ran off to their offices. The party, which was pointed out by Blesk, continued even after the tragedy at Charles University. Minister Marian Jurečka subsequently apologized.
„Employees’ working hours were not terminated on the day of the Christmas meeting at 3:30 p.m., but the staff attended the launch of the Christmas meeting and then they took turns doing office work and they were returning to the Christmas meeting again,” said the server iRozhlas.cz on Thursday, which got the protocol about the inspection.
Working hours are flexible at the ministry, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Beer and wine were drunk at the Christmas party.
The Prague Inspectorate, which is in charge of the case, should now start criminal proceedings with the department and can measure a fine of 10 to 50 thousand crowns.
Will Jureček’s head fall?
The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs has previously stated that it fully respects the result of the inspection. “And that’s why the right to object was waived. We are ready to continue to provide all cooperation to the labor inspectorate in the framework of subsequent administrative proceedings,” said department spokesman Jakub Augusta.
The case also has political implications. Minister of Labor and head of the People’s Party Marian Jurečka faced criticism, including within his own party, for not ending the party immediately due to the shooting and he did not initially face the case head on. His party mates eventually stood up for him, but Jurečka promised that if the people will not do well in the electionsalready in autumn will not defend the chair.
