The Czech Republic is a country that is considered one of the most comfortable for foreigners to find a job. It is especially popular among Russians, Poles and Ukrainians. One of the most demanded jobs in 2021 is working in the Czech Republic as a driver. Immigrants from the CIS countries work here mainly as long-distance truck drivers on trucks or are engaged in passenger transportation on bus routes. At the same time, compared to Russia and other post-Soviet states, employment as a driver in the Czech Republic has many advantages.
What are the advantages of working in the Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a member of the European Union, so official employment here is a kind of privilege that not everyone can get. However, professional drivers have a fairly high chance of this. In addition, they receive a number of benefits:
- a driver is one of the most demanded professions in the country. Driver vacancies are common, so a good specialist will always find a job;
- drivers' salaries are lower than in other European countries, but the Czech state provides foreigners with many benefits - for example, good discounts on mortgages, lower taxes and more;
- drivers can start their own business - for example, create their own small taxi service and work for themselves. To open a business, you can take out a loan at a low interest rate;
- drivers working on international routes who are officially employed in the Czech Republic can go through border and customs control at the borders of the EU countries according to a simplified procedure;
- drivers can choose a convenient work schedule (number of flights);
- most likely, work will happen on new modern cars, which provide maximum comfort for drivers.
In addition, the Czech Republic has good roads, which contributes to the safety of drivers' nerves.
The specifics of working as a driver in the Czech Republic
The possibility of getting a job as a driver for Ukrainians, Russians and Belarusians depends, first of all, on their qualifications. There are several skill levels to accomplish the following tasks:
- Transportation within the city. The list of duties of such a driver includes the delivery of goods from point A to point B. Moreover, the area in which the specialist works usually does not go beyond the city, including at most the suburbs. This category includes employees of courier services, taxi companies, etc. Cars and even mopeds are used for work. They can hire an employee with no experience.
- Transportation in the country. In this case, drivers are usually required to be able to drive either trucks and vans (to transport goods) or buses (to transport people). This requires work experience.
- International shipping. Only an experienced driver can work as an international driver. Such work brings the greatest income, since trips often last for several weeks, or even months (the interval between flights is a week / two). The applicant must have work experience and positive references from previous employers.
The working conditions of drivers in all these cases differ markedly, as well as salaries. A driver working within the city earns the least, and an international driver earns the most.
At the same time, international officials work from flight to flight, while the first two categories of drivers generally have a five-day working week or work in shifts.
Where to find a job as a driver
There are several options for finding a job in the Czech Republic. People from the CIS countries often try to search for vacancies without intermediaries using the Internet. This is very convenient, but not always successful.
Here are some of the most popular European websites where Czech employers often search for employees:
- portal.mpsv.cz/sz/zahr_zam/zamka/vm;
- 420on.cz/job/vacancies;
- eurabota.com;
- jooble.org.
Applicants from Ukraine most often use the services of the work.ua website.
Available vacancies can also be seen on the website of the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy of the Czech Republic. But there is one condition: first of all, they hire citizens from other EU countries. If none of them is interested in the available vacancy, only in this case it will become available for applicants from the CIS.
In addition, if you wish, you can contact the following employment firms:
- Work in Poland - offers employment not only in the Czech Republic and Poland, but also in a number of other EU countries. The office is located at the address: Dnepropetrovsk, Korolenko street, 3, 8th floor;
- People Tomorrow - Kiev, Vasylkivska street, 37;
- GOOD WORKER - Na Plzeňce 1236/4 150 00, Praha 5;
- International personnel center - Moscow, Salova street, 63, office 329, "Frunzensky".
However, it should be borne in mind that employment agencies require payment for their services, while independent search is completely free.
What are the requirements for drivers
In addition to a sufficient level of qualifications, the following requirements are imposed on an applicant for a driver's position in the Czech Republic:
- it is desirable to know Czech or English. Nobody requires academic knowledge, but a person must understand what is required of him;
- have a driver's license. Depending on where the applicant has to work, the license must be of category B, C, D or E. In particular, the license of category B is suitable only for working on passenger cars, while the rest confirm the qualifications for driving larger vehicles;
- an applicant for the position of a driver must legally stay in the country. This means that he must have a biometric passport with a valid work visa;
- the applicant has a European code 95 and a chip card for the tachograph;
- have good health, the condition of which is confirmed by a medical report;
- age - from 23 (less often from 19) to 55 years. However, as practice shows, employers more often choose applicants under the age of 40;
- no criminal record.
It is not necessary, but it will still be a big plus to have ADRs, as well as experience in transportation in Europe.
What is required for employment in the Czech Republic
To get a job as a driver in the Czech Republic, Russian job seekers will need:
- Find a vacant place to work (on your own or through an agency).
- Contact the company that offers it and arrange a job.
- Conclude a contract with an employer.
- Apply for a Czech Republic visa and work card. Please note that a labor card is issued after paying a consular fee of CZK 2,500.
The visa is issued for about two months, and if the decision is positive, you will be able to work in the Czech Republic for at least 3 months.
Moreover, it is not at all necessary to issue a work visa - you can go to get a job on a regular short-term Schengen visa, which allows you to stay in the country for up to three months (90 days).
To obtain a Czech visa, you need to prepare the following documents:
- application form (filled in Latin);
- foreign passport (copy and original);
- medical policy (drawn up according to the rules of the EU countries);
- photographs of a standard sample;
- work permit (if you are applying for a work visa) - it should be obtained from the Department of Employment of the Czech Republic;
- signed labor contract with a transport company;
- documents confirming that you have housing (a hotel reservation or an apartment / room rental agreement; if a company provides housing, a document that confirms this);
- income statement.
How much do drivers get in the Czech Republic
Salaries in the Czech Republic are slightly lower than in other EU countries, but the working conditions are more comfortable. At the same time, professionals can earn really good money:
- Bus drivers. The salary depends on which routes are used for bus transportation. For example, on a city route, you can earn about a thousand euros a month, while transporting passengers within the country - 1400-1500 euros. The maximum salary reaches 2500 euros for international transport.
- Taxi drivers. Usually, passengers are transported within the city, maximum to the suburbs. Wages depend on the number of kilometers traveled, but on average, taxi drivers receive between 30,000 and 35,000 kroons per month (about 1,300 euros).
- Truck drivers. Working as a trucker for transportation within the region, you can receive from 40 thousand kroons per month. International truckers receive from 50 thousand kroons. The average salary is 2,000 euros, depending on the duration of the flights and the complexity of the transportation of goods.
Some employers practice hourly rather than monthly wages. Most often, such a system is used when it comes to transportation not over long distances, but around the city. In this case, earnings depend on how many hours per week or per month you are willing to work. In addition, high-level specialists are usually paid a slightly higher rate. On the whole, in terms of wages, a driver is quite a competitive job.
What are the questions most frequently asked by job seekers?
Upon arrival in a foreign country for the purpose of employment, jobseekers have a lot of questions. Let's try to answer some of them.
Is it possible to work as a driver on a Polish visa?
International drivers and carriers on local routes can work on a Polish visa. It allows you to work on the territory of the country for no more than six months.
What are the conditions under which bus drivers work?
It depends on the position. Shuttle bus drivers in Prague work 5 days a week with an 8-hour working day. Taxi drivers have hourly wages. Long-distance truck drivers of large-sized cargo transport work on flights (the break between flights is a week / two).
Is it compulsory to know Czech?
Knowledge of the language is one of the advantages for the job seeker, but employers are not too strict with those who do not know Czech well. And yet, the minimum knowledge of the language should be, especially among the drivers who will work with people: taxi drivers, bus drivers.
Do employers provide housing?
It depends on the employer. Such information is usually indicated in the vacancy announcement. More often than not, even if housing is provided, it is not completely free. For example, employers can offer free accommodation for just a couple of months, after which the employee can renew the lease at their own expense or look for other options. There are announcements in which it is indicated that housing is included in the terms of cooperation, but in this case, you should be prepared for the fact that wages will be below average.
Finally
Driver is one of the most demanded professions in the Czech Republic. Employers are ready to pay decent wages and provide comfortable living and working conditions. At the same time, good roads allow you not to worry about the safety of the entrusted vehicle and calmly perform your duties.
In terms of employment, Czech employers give preference to workers from the CIS countries, in particular, Belarusians, Ukrainians and Russians, and even without knowledge of the language.
