Gender Discrimination a First in Czech Court

On 16 August, a Czech district court started dealing with what is probably the first complaint of gender discrimination in the Czech labour market. Filed by economist Marie Causevicova, 51, against her employer, the Prazska teplarenska heating utility company. She accused the company of unequal treatment in a competition for the post of financial director, saying she was not selected for the post because she is a woman, and not because of insufficient qualifications and experience. The post was given to a man who Causevicova says was less qualified. Apart from receiving the director’s post, Causevicova – who still works with the company in the internal audit section – is demanding an apology from the company and financial compensation of CZK 1 million. The applications for the post of financial director were assessed by a personnel agency, but the company board had the final say in the selection. According to the complaint, Causevicova was recommended as the most suitable candidate, but management rejected, allegedly over her insufficient grasp of accounting. Although not a positive, this case can be seen as a step in the right direction for women in the former communist countries and as a effect of the Czech Republic’s accession to the EU.
Excerpted from: Court Deals with First Complaint of Gender Discrimination, Prague Daily Monitor, 16 August 2006

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