The State Labour Inspection Office (SLIO) is the central administrative body responsible for supervising compliance with labour law regulations and regulations on occupational safety and health (OSH). Each year, it publishes a Programme of Inspection Activities setting out the priorities for inspection work in the coming year, with planning based on Section 4 (1)(c) of Act No. 251/2005 Coll., on Labour Inspection, as amended (hereinafter the “Labour Inspection Act”). In this article, we summarise the results of inspections carried out in 2025 and the specific areas on which the Inspectorate will focus this year.
General information on the inspection activities of the Labour Inspectorate
The inspection activities of the labour inspection authorities focus on three main areas: i) inspections in the field of employment; ii) inspections in the field of labour relations; and iii) inspections in the field of occupational health and safety. These individual areas are not typically inspected in isolation; in practice, they often overlap, and as a result, many inspections cover all three areas.
In the area of employment, inspection activities focus primarily on detecting illegal employment and disguised employment agencies, on compliance with the principles of equal treatment and the prohibition of discrimination in the exercise of the right to employment, and on the fulfilment of the mandatory quota for the employment of persons with disabilities. In doing so, it is governed by Act No. 435/2004 Coll., on Employment (hereinafter the “Employment Act”).
In the area of labour relations, the Inspectorate monitors employers’ compliance with their obligations under labour legislation, which include rules on working hours and rest periods, statutory remuneration conditions, and rules on agency employment. Inspections cover employers regardless of their size, legal form, or the sector in which they operate.
In the case of occupational safety, labour inspection authorities focus on ensuring the obligations of both legal entities and self-employed individuals to maintain safe working conditions, including the safe operation of special technical equipment (STE) subject to specific safety requirements. Inspections in this area are based, among other things, on an ongoing analysis of occupational accident rates. Statistics on fatal and serious workplace accidents, therefore, directly influence which sectors and workplaces inspectors will focus on each year.
Illegal employment and disguised employment agencies
The fight against illegal employment remains a long-term and uncompromising priority for inspections. This is also evidenced by the statistics for 2025, when inspectors carried out almost 6,000 inspections, uncovered over 2,300 people working illegally, and imposed fines totalling over CZK 130 million. The vast majority of those working illegally are foreign nationals. This trend reflects the situation in the labour market, where low unemployment is pushing employers to seek labour abroad, and some of them are willing to circumvent the rules laid down by law.
On 1 October 2025, an amendment to the Employment Act came into force, introducing changes to the obligation to report the commencement of employment for foreign nationals. The report must now be submitted before the actual start of work. A breach of this obligation constitutes a new administrative offence, namely ‘unreported work’ under Section 5 (j) of the Employment Act, for which a fine of up to CZK 3 million may be imposed. The rule applies to all groups of foreign workers, from EU citizens and holders of temporary protection to workers from third countries.
Disguised employment agency activities are being uncovered by inspections among employers who are not employment agencies and who attempt to disguise their activities, consisting of the so-called supply of labour, through a closed business relationship, and furthermore among employers who hold an authorisation to act as employment agencies, yet still use a contractual business relationship to replace properly concluded agreements with users. In 2025, the Inspectorate uncovered over 299 cases of disguised employment agency activities and imposed fines totalling over CZK 165 million. For 2026, the SLIO has announced intensive cooperation in this area with the Financial Administration, the Police of the Czech Republic, and the Czech Social Security Administration.
Remuneration, equality, and CCTV systems
The area of employee remuneration is traditionally one of the most frequent sources of complaints. For 2026, the Inspectorate will focus on compliance with the minimum wage, the correct application of higher-level collective agreements binding on the employer in question, and the remuneration of employees working under agreements for work performed outside of an employment relationship. The SLIO plans to carry out at least 100 specialised inspections on equal pay for men and women and will use the LOGIB analytical tool during these inspections to identify pay gaps. The Czech Republic has long been above the European average for the gender pay gap.
A specific priority is the inspection of the use of CCTV systems in the workplace. Whilst an employer may install cameras for legitimate purposes (protection of property, security), they must respect the protection of employees’ personal rights enshrined in Section 316 of Act No. 262/2006 Coll., the Labour Code (hereinafter the “Labour Code”). The Inspectorate will examine whether i) there is a serious reason for monitoring, ii) the monitoring is proportionate, and iii) the employer is fulfilling its obligations as a data controller. Confidentiality clauses regarding remuneration in employment contracts or internal regulations, and attendance bonuses, which may constitute discrimination, will also be scrutinised.
Foreign workers and posted workers
The Czech Republic has long been a sought-after destination for labour migration, which is directly reflected in the inspectorate’s priorities – the working conditions of foreign nationals are therefore an automatic part of every inspection. In 2026, particular attention will be paid to holders of temporary protection from Ukraine, who are well represented in the domestic labour market. In addition, the Inspectorate will focus on employers participating in the Skilled Worker Programme, which allows for the recruitment of workers from thirteen countries.
Please note that, from July 2024, foreign employers who post workers to the Czech Republic have been subject to a notification requirement, under which they must now report the posting directly to the State Labour Inspection Office (rather than to regional branches of the Labour Office) via the information system, no later than the date the worker commences employment, in accordance with Section 101a of the Employment Act. The Inspectorate then verifies whether the posted workers are provided with the minimum standards set out in European directives (minimum wage, working hours, annual leave, OSH, and others).
Occupational safety: construction, industry, and the tertiary sector
In the area of occupational safety and health (OSH) and special technical equipment (STE), the Inspectorate plans to carry out at least 8,700 inspections in 2026. Their focus reflects workplace accident statistics; for example, in 2025, 44 fatal workplace accidents were investigated, which directly influences the selection of sectors and workplaces that will be subject to inspections.
Amendment to legislation effective from November 2025 (Act No. 309/2006 Coll., on ensuring further conditions for safety and health protection at work, and Government Regulation No. 591/2006 Coll., on detailed minimum requirements for safety and health protection at work on construction sites, as amended) introduces new obligations for building clients, contractors, and OSH coordinators. Inspections will focus on work at height (historically the most common cause of fatal accidents), unsecured excavations, and assembly work. In the manufacturing and engineering sectors, emphasis will be placed on the correct labelling of safety features, records of technical equipment inspections, and the safe operation of forklift trucks. The tertiary sector (specifically care homes, rehabilitation centres, and retail outlets) will also be subject to OSH compliance inspections as planned.
Another area under scrutiny is the safe handling of hazardous chemicals and mixtures. Inspections will primarily target small and medium-sized enterprises which, although not covered by Act No. 224/2015 Coll. on the prevention of major accidents, nevertheless handle hazardous substances. In the area of designated technical equipment, inspections will cover electrical, gas, pressure, and lifting equipment.
Conclusion
The SLIO’s programme of inspection activities for 2026 clearly confirms that the Labour Inspectorate is continuing its intensive and targeted approach to inspection work. Alongside traditional priorities, such as illegal employment or health and safety on construction sites, there is an increasing focus on the monitoring of employees via CCTV systems, equal pay for men and women, and the newly introduced offence – unreported work.
Working conditions for foreign workers remain a cross-cutting issue. Employers should therefore not underestimate the need for preparation, whether it concerns the correct setting up of processes for hiring foreign nationals, keeping records of working hours, ensuring pay complies with the law, or updating health and safety documentation in line with the amendment that came into force in November 2025.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions on this topic.
Mgr. Jakub Málek, managing partner – malek@plegal.cz
Tereza Hrudková, legal assistant – hrudkova@plegal.cz
???. 4. 2026