The issue of cross-border workers (the so-called “pendlers”)

From 26 March 2020 at midnight (i.e. at night from Wednesday to Thursday), new rules for employees commuting to work are coming into operation. The change will affect “pendlers” crossing the border between the Czech Republic, Germany and Austria.

Nothing changes for persons crossing the border between the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland. The main rules remain:

• regular crossing of internal borders - 3times a week in one direction at minimum
• the place of work must be within 100 km from internal borders
• the “pendler” must have a confirmation from his employer and the so-called cross-border worker booklet

For persons crossing the border between the Czech Republic, Germany and Austria, new rules will come in operation from Wednesday to Thursday, depending on whether they are persons travelling for work from the territory of CR or persons travelling to the territory of CR.

It will apply for both above-mentioned groups that the duration of stay abroad must be a cycle of 21 days in a row at minimum, the distance need not be within 100 km, but if they travel a greater distance, they must only use the main border-crossings with the 24/7 regime. They do not need to have the cross-border worker booklet with them, the police will keep it in electronic form.

For persons travelling for work from the territory of CR, it also applies that between the work cycles abroad, they must submit to 14-day quarantine, which they need to arrange with their doctor and when starting a new work cycle, they must submit it to the police.

For persons travelling for work to the territory of CR, it further applies that after ending the 21-day cycle, they must observe a 14-day pause before beginning a new 21-day cycle.