Czechs protest against electronic social cards

Prague, Aug 30 (CTK) - Several dozen people protested against the introduction of electronic social cards for drawing welfare benefits outside the Labour and Social Affairs Ministry's seat in Prague before noon Thursday.

The demonstrators symbolically returned a big model of the e-card to Labour Minister Jaromir Drabek (TOP 09).

The protest meeting was organised by the National Disability Council (NRZP) along with the Christian Democrats (KDU-CSL).

They jointly called on Prime Minister Petr Necas (Civic Democrats, ODS) and his government to suspend the issuance of the social cards until the problems with them are solved.

"We suppose that this is such a bad product that we all must unite against it," NRZP chairman Vaclav Krasa said.

The electronic cards are operated by the Ceska sporitelna bank that has won a tender for the system.

The cards are to serve not only as IDs but also for drawing social benefits from cash dispensers, transferring the welfare pay to people's accounts and for payment.

Krasa pointed to the system's shortcomings. There are no cash dispensers available in villages, for instance, and some handicapped people are not able to use them, he said.

The NRZP also criticises the fact that welfare benefits would not be sent by mail to people' homes or to their bank accounts.

The council also minds the saving bank having access do data on the benefit recipients, their possible disability and the income on the basis of which some benefits are calculated.

The opposition Social Democrats (CSSD) and Communists (KSCM) as well as trade unions have also challenged the e-card system.

Drabek talked to the protesters Thursday, trying to persuade them that the electronic cards would be beneficial for them and the state would thereby save finances.

He assured them that those who would not be able to draw social benefits by cards, would keep receiving them by mail free of charge.

Deputies are now to debate a draft amendment that would limit the payment functions of the electronic social cards.

The Anti-Trust Office (UOHS) is also dealing with the case.

However, the Central Labour Office has finished testing the cards and it is launching the new system.

The plastic social cards are to be issued to some 50,000 people by the end of September and the system should be fully functioning as from January, 2013.