Building authority officials are considering leaving due to digitalization, while others are striking.

Prague – The non-functional digitalization of the building permit process raises concerns among employees at building offices that they will not be able to meet the established deadlines. Some are considering leaving, while others would think about a strike in the absolute worst-case scenario. Alena Gaňová, vice-chairwoman of the Trade Union of State Authorities and Organizations, said this after today's meeting with Minister for Regional Development Ivan Bartoš (Pirates). However, according to her, neither the officials nor the trade union are currently planning any strike. Bartoš stated on the social network X today that the Ministry for Regional Development is working to ease the qualification requirements for officials.

According to Gaňová, officials are angry, unhappy, and desperate. The work that used to take tens of minutes now takes much longer, she claims. If officials cannot meet the deadlines for processing applications, according to the trade union's vice-chair, they could face lawsuits from builders. The consideration of a potential strike, she noted, did not arise from the initiative of the trade union but from the officials themselves, who are not even members of the union.

Last week, the trade union sent a letter to Prime Minister Petr Fiala (ODS) and Bartoš, informing them about the fundamental problems with the digitalization system for building permits. According to them, the system lacks basic templates that allow for automatic form filling, is not properly connected with the land registry, and there are also issues with basic functionalities. In a letter penned by the union's chairman Pavel Bednář, Minister Bartoš either shows a 'lamentable ignorance of the entire issue, or downplays it in a way that is literally insulting to the offices involved.'

Identical problems that the trade union points out are also causing issues for the Association of City and Municipal Secretaries, the chambers of architects and engineers, the Platform for a Healthy Construction Law, and the Union of Towns and Municipalities. Their representatives also met with representatives of the ministry and Bartoš this month to address the issue. According to the Deputy Prime Minister for Digitalization and Minister for Regional Development, the system should be functional by the end of August.

"The staffing situation in building offices has long been poor – it has been difficult to fill thousands of positions. The rollout of the new building law and digitalization is challenging, but ultimately they will lead to an improvement in the situation. We are working to ease the qualification requirements for officials, and since July, their standard salaries have also been increased. I completely understand that the offices are overloaded and their employees are uncertain. We will try to dispel that uncertainty as soon as possible together with the unions," Bartoš said today on X.

City offices and builders have been complaining about the digitalization systems since their launch on July 1. Problems with the digitalization of the building permit process could lead to billion-dollar losses, according to some estimates. In addition to the opposition, even the Pirates' governmental partners have pointed out deficiencies. For example, according to the chair of the TOP 09 MPs, Jan Jakob, the minister should be held personally accountable if the system is not fixed by the end of August. However, Minister Bartoš has repeatedly stated that he is not considering resignation.