The branch network should be separated from the Czech Post within three years into a new state enterprise. The post office should continue to offer mainly commercial services. This was stated by the Minister of the Interior Jan Hamáček (ČSSD) at Thursday’s press conference.
The division into a branch part providing the so-called universal service, which is ordered by the state, and a commercial part is to ensure the competitiveness of the company in the coming years. According to Hamáček, the division will not mean the closure of branches, the dismissal of employees or the privatization of part of the company.
According to General Director Roman Knap, the Post Office is currently to operate a network of at least 3,200 branches on the basis of a license from the state or to ensure the delivery of letter items and some parcels throughout the Czech Republic. For this, it can demand the state to pay costs of up to CZK 1.5 billion. He last received this payment in 2017.
This year, the post office should create a division strategy with the Ministry of the Interior, including the division of assets, and changes in legislation are to follow next year. The physical division is to take place in 2023 with a new postal license.
Last year, the Czech Post increased its loss by one billion to CZK 1.382 billion due to coronavirus. At the same time, it planned that the decline would be even CZK 400 million higher. The negative impact of the pandemic represents more than half of last year’s loss. So far this year, the company has an operating profit of CZK 25 million.
Source: CTK
