Job Discussion Forums

[pacific]

My school is really pushing that all the instructors get a zivnostensky list. Even part-time ones. They say it's more advantageous as those on "zivno" get most, if not all, their money back at tax time. I will be teaching for them part-time (1/2 time). That means I don't get all the perks that full-time teachers get (mainly bus pass and free tax help). Of course, as an "independent contractor" I would have to pay my own health insurance. Is it worth it or should I ask for an employment contract? What do you think?

[johnnyappleseed]

If you are here long-term it is worth it. If not, then I wouldn't bother, especially if you are non-EU.

[pacific]

johnnyappleseed, could you elaborate a little? What do you mean by long-term? And why would it be worth it long-term as opposed to short-term?

Thanks.

[johnnyappleseed]

I guess I would define long term as two years(from now) or more.

For a non-EU'er, it's quite expensive and there is a lot of bureaucracy involved in getting one--and you have to time it with the foreign police and so on.

I already had a visa when I got mine, and I had to change it from an employee visa to a self-employed one. (The good news is, my new self-employed visa was good for two years!)

Here's what I remember from the process(I'm an American and I don't live in a major city, for a little background on my situation.)

Czech criminal record check--50 crowns and about a week's wait.

I had to get an affidavit from the American Embassy which cost me about 600 kc in 2007. I got it "superlegalized" at the castle in Prague for another 600.

The total cost, including travelling to Prague and back: about 2000 kc.

I had to get something from the local tax office and the local social office stating that I didn't owe them any money. That might have cost me something, I don't remember--if it did it was cheap.


I got two copies of everything and got them notarized. that cost about thirty crowns a pop, again, not too expensive, but it did take time and dealing with non-Czech speaking bureaucracy. Even though I get by ok on my Czech skills, it's still a bit stressful and can be time-consuming.

Then I applied for the Z-list--1000kc. They were really nice, though!

Then I had to get an identification number from the court in the nearest big town, which is Ostrava--that cost me 5 000 kc. Plus travel expenses of say, 300 kc. Again time consuming--two days were taken up by this and the second time I went alone, which was a little hard because I had trouble understanding the Ostravan dialect! Plus had to navigate my way around a big unfamiliar city--but it was ok in the end.

They did it in 24 hours, by the way, but it can take up to ten days--they rushed it for me because I live in a small town about an hour and a half away from Ostrava, which was really nice of them.

Also the form for application was really long and confusing and I actually had to go to a notary(30 kc!) for part of it--the part where I signed a statement giving myself permission to work for myself. I think I may have had to get some other signature on the same form notarized, too.

Then I had to buy insurance for seven months ahead of time, which cost me about 7 000 kc. Tourist insurance is enough for the foreign police by the way and is cheaper! I've heard in some cases they make you buy it a whole year in advance and it's obviously more expensive, then. For some reason seven months was sufficient for me.

After that I then had to apply to change my visa which took a few weeks and I needed the usual rental contract notarized, some statement from the owner of the flat notarized, a statement from the Cadaster office stating that the owner of the apartment was the owner of the apartment, which cost about 200 crowns and I made copies and had them notarized, too-- it was two pages, so getting two copies notarized cost 120 kc.


Then it was a matter of applying for a change of visa, which costs a thousand crowns. Then, on the day that it was finally ready, I had my employer cancel my employment at the Urad Prace and got my old visa invalidated and a new one put in its place.

Overall it was very expensive and took about two months. If I don't count the cost of medical that I had to pay in a lump sum, I still reckon it ended up costing me about 10 000 kc.

It's worth it over a long period of time because the social and medical that you have to pay every month is less than that which is paid by you and your employer when you are an employee. So you end up making a bit more cash per month.

You do have to pay your own taxes though. (Although this year I got money back from them, next year I anticipate a rather large bill at tax time.) The way I figure it, at my rate of pay I make approximately 1500 more per month working for the same school. It's actually a lot more than that, but when you consider all the expenses of getting the visa, plus paying medical and social yourself, plus taxes, it's a bit more.

However, another benefit is that I now have total flexibility and freedom as far as how I make my money. I'm able to work for just about anybody legally(rather than being legally chained to one school) and THAT's the number one thing that can make you more money in the long-term.


It's a little easier for EU citizens or people with trvaly pobyt! Much easier in fact, because you don't need the identification number, which was definitely the most expensive and costly item.

[Aussie Chick]

[johnnyappleseed]

I disagree that it is about experience or laziness. It is simply money. With a Z-list the school is not responsible for taxes, medical or social so they can pay the teacher more while actually paying out less.

[Sigma]

[ITTP]

[Chris Westergaard]

Yes it's worth it.

[johnnyappleseed]

.

[johnnyappleseed]

bumped for Someone...apologies for the many typos and gaffes in my initial post.

Strong word of advice for any non-EU person getting a Z-list...make many calls to the Z-list office and the Foreign police and whoever else. Get a Czech friend to help you. It's a bureaucratic nightmare...but not as bad as it could be.