Czechia

Czechia 

At a glance

• In 2009, Czechia passed the Anti-Discrimination Act, which outlaws discrimination on a number of grounds including disability. 

• Czechia has signed and ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. 

Key stats

• Over 1.15 million people in Czechia are disabled (according to 2019 statistics). That is around 13 per cent of the population. 

The law

• Disability legislation – The Anti-Discrimination is the main law that covers disability-discrimination. Disability is also mentioned in other laws, such as those relating to health, employment and education. 

• Definition of disability – The Anti-Discrimination Act defines disability as “a physical, sensory, mental, psychological or some other impairment which precludes or may preclude the right of persons to equal treatment” and must be expected to last at least a year. 

Employment

• Adjustments / accommodations – Employers have to take “appropriate measures to enable a person with a disability to have access” to employment, unless a measure would be an “unreasonable burden.” Whether a burden is unreasonable depends on factors including: 
  • How much it benefits the individual 
  • Cost 
  • Availability of financial and other support. 

• Quotas – Employers in Czechia with more than 20 employees are required to ensure that 4.5 per cent of their workforce is disabled. Another 0.5 per cent must be severely disabled. 

• Data – Employers must report on the numbers of disabled people in their workforce, in order to demonstrate that they have met the quota. 

• Incentives – Does the government reward employers who hire/retain more disabled employees? 

Customers

• The Anti-Discrimination Act protects disabled customers from discrimination in the provision of goods and services. The European Commission has a 2012 report into the legal frameworks protecting disabled customers in Czechia. 

Built environment

• There is no single law governing accessibility in Czechia. There are specific frameworks for separate areas of life. 

Digital accessibility

• Act on the Accessibility of Websites and Mobile Applications – Requires government and other public bodies to meet a certain accessibility standards based on WCAG 2.0. 

• European Accessibility Act – As a member of the EU, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) also applies in Czechia. This is due to come into effect in July 2025. The EAA mandates a minimum standard of accessibility across a wide range of digital products and services. It applies to public bodies and private businesses. See our guidance on the EAA for more information. 

Case studies

Would you like to showcase your organisation’s work on our Knowledge Hub? Contact enquiries@businessdisabilityforum.org.uk.

Country-specific disability organisations 

• Board for Persons with Disabilities – Created by the national government to identify how to address social problems associated with disability. Published the National Plan for the Promotion of Equal Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities 2021-2025. 

• Czech National Disability Council – Works with national and local government bodies to promote the rights of disabled people. 

• Blind Friendly – Supports businesses and publishers of digital content in Czechia to meet accessibility standards.