Czech Industry Failing Under Nationalisation

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 August 1948, Page 5

Czech Industry Failing Under Nationalisation

LONDON, August 23

“In spite of wholesale nationalisation, Czech Government spokesmen continue to complain of falling output, apathy, absenteeism, and inefficiency in Czech industry,” says the Prague correspondent of The Times. “The larger enterprises in Czechoslovakia have now been under State ownership since October, 1945. but not only are they still grappling with difficulties—the difficulties seem to be increasing.

“Now that the Government finds itself in the role of an employer of labour, its spokesmen do not hesitate to criticise and condemn the workers. The latest of these criticisms comes from the Prime Minister (Mr Zapotocky), himself a leading trade unionist, who recently attacked the workers for trying to get everything and give as little as possible in exchange. “There were, according to Mr Zapotocky, too many missed shifts, too many people who feigned illness, too many fires, too much carelessness, and too much stealing.

; “With output decreasing and absen- ' teesim rising, it is not surprising that the consumer finds so litle to buy in ' the shops and that the export plan is not being fulfilled. j “One reason for this state of affairs 1 in Czech industry is lack of incentives. The Government, has already ; reversed its original policy of equal i pay for all and is now reintroducing piece rates throughout every branch of industry. Many Czech workers are now beginning to realise that it is less important to own a share in a factory , than to get a fair share of what it produces. I “There is no doubt that the standard of living in Czechoslovakia is ‘ falling and no one sees any prospect |of checking it.”