President Havel announced that he would name Zdeněk Tůma as CNB Governor and Luděk Niedermayer as vice-Governor. He also announced an appointment of two new members: Michaela Erbenová and Jan Frait. His decision was criticised by politicians, however economists welcomed the choice of the President.
The labor ministry wants to attract foreign workers to help to keep the pension system financeable after 2015. He would like to attract especially young and educated persons and their families. Beginning of the next year the ministry wants to offer permanent residence to a first group of 100 people.
In the 1st to 3rd quarters of 2000, real wages grew by 2.4% (3.3% in the 1st quarter and 2.0% in the 2nd and 3rd quarters); they grew by 3.7% in the business sphere (4.6% in the 1st quarter and 3.2% in the 2nd and 3rd quarters) and dropped by 1.4% in the non-business sphere (a 0.8% drop in the 1st quarter and a 1.7% drop in the 2nd and 3rd quarters).
The Czech koruna touched a new record high against the euro on Friday. The koruna reached 34.20 to the euro in the middle of the day. After corrections it settled on 34.29 to the euro. The announcement of changes in CNB board did not affect FX market. The CZK/USD exchange rate moved in the range 40.52 - 40.90 and ended at 40.75 on Friday.
(David Marek)