Statute

S t a t u t e

OF THE GOVERNMENT COUNCIL FOR OLDER PERSONS AND POPULATION AGEING

ARTICLE 1

INTRODUCTORY PROVISIONS

  1. The Government Council for Older Persons and Population Ageing (hereinafter referred to as „the Council“) is a standing advisory body of the Government for issues related to ageing of population and older persons.
  2. The Council was established by the Government resolution no. 288 of 22 March 2006.

ARTICLE 2

SCOPE OF POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COUNCIL

  1. The Council shall strive to promote conditions for healthy and active ageing, dignity in old age, and active participation of older persons in economic and social development in the context of demographic ageing; it shall aim to ensure equal rights for older persons in all areas of life, to protect their human rights and support development of intergenerational relationships in family and society.
  2. The Council shall, in particular:
    1. initiate and propose legislative and non-legislative measures to address important issues related to concerns of older persons and ageing of population,
    2. deal systematically with the issue of human rights of older persons and propose to the Government measures aimed at their protection,
    3. initiate and support the co-operation between public administration, social partners, non-governmental organizations, organizations of older persons, and other institutions and individuals involved in the area of ageing,
    4. support participation of academia and experts in addressing significant issues for older persons and in improving their living conditions; it shall contribute to realistic images of and attitudes to ageing, old age and older persons in society and in media,
    5. monitor and evaluate documents of the European Union and international organizations significant for issues related to ageing and older persons, and submit proposals to the Government on their use in specific policies,
    6. encourage research and analytical activities in the area of ageing and strive to support production and dissemination of statistical and other information, which is important for activities in this area and for evaluation of their efficiency,
    7. award the prize of the Council to individuals, organizations and other subjects, which have significantly contributed to increasing quality of life of older people and to addressing issues related to ageing and old age.

ARTICLE 3

COMPOSITION OF THE COUNCIL

  1. The Council shall have 29 members, including the Chairperson and two Vice-chairpersons.
  2. The Chairperson is the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs.
  3. The two Vice-chairpersons of the Council are the Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, who is responsible for the issue of the elderly and the ageing population, and the Deputy Minister of Labour or the Deputy Minister in the Office of the Government, who is responsible for the issue of human rights.
  4. Members of the Council listed in paragraph 5 a) – f) of this Article shall be appointed and recalled by the Chaiperson of the Council on proposal from individual ministers. In the event that the substantive remit of the Ministry relating to the issue of the elderly and ageing does not fall within the competence of any of the Deputy Ministers, the State Secretary of the relevant Ministry may be appointed as a member of the Council.
  5. Other members of the Council shall include
    1. Deputy Minister of Health,
    2. Deputy Minister of Finance,
    3. Deputy Minister of the Interior,
    4. Deputy Minister of Education, Youth and Sports,
    5. Deputy Minister for Regional Development,
    6. Deputy Minister of Transportation,
    7. Representative of the Ministry of Environment,
    8. Representative of the Committee on Social Policy of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic ,
    9. Representative of the Committee on Health and Social Policy of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic ,
    10. Representative of the Czech Statistical Office,
    11. Representative of the Association of Regions of the Czech Republic,
    12. Representative of the Union of Towns and Municipalities of the Czech Republic,
    13. Representative of the Czech-Moravian Trade Union Confederation,
    14. Representative of the Confederation of Employers’ and Entrepreneurs’ Associations of the Czech Republic,
    15. Representative of the Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic,
    16. Representative of the General Health Insurance Company,
    17. Representative of the Association of Health Insurance Companies of the Czech Republic,
    18. 3 experts,
    19. 3 representatives of organizations of older persons,
    20. 3 representatives of non-governmental organizations.
  6. The term of office of the Council members is the same as that of the Government. After the end of the term of office of the Government, the Council as currently constituted shall continue to function until a new Council is appointed. If a member of the Council was appointed during the term of office of the Government, his term of office shall expire at the same time as the end of the term of office of the Government. There shall be no limit to the number of reappointments.
  7. Membership of the Council shall terminate:
    1. for members of the Government upon termination of their term in office,
    2. for representatives of public administration upon recall or upon termination of their employment,
    3. upon recall by the Chairperson of the Council,
    4. upon resignation from membership before the end of the term,
    5. upon death of the Council member.
  8. Members of the Council may not be represented by other persons, except under conditions stated in Article 5 paragraph 4 and 5 of this Statute.
  9. The rules applicable to the work of the Council and its working groups shall apply mutatis mutandis to permanent collaborators.

ARTICLE 4

CHAIRPERSON OF THE COUNCIL

  1. The Chairperson of the Council shall be accountable for the work of the Council to the Government of the Czech Republic.
  2. The Chairperson of the Council shall convene and chair meetings of the Council. The meetings shall take place as necessary but at least three times a year. On the proposal from the Chairperson or from one third of members of the Council, the Chairperson of the Council shall convene a meeting of the Council to be held within three weeks after tabling the proposal.
  3. Furthermore, the Chairperson of the Council shall, without limitation
    1. appoint and recall members of the Council pursuant to Article 3 of this Statute,
    2. direct the work of the Council,
    3. sign opinions, recommendations and other documents of the Council,
    4. present proposals to the Government for recalling a Vice-chairperson of the Council,
    5. decide on establishment or dissolution of a working group of the Council and its composition, appoint and recall the chairpersons of working groups of the Council
    6. decide on whether guests will be invited to the Council meetings,
    7. grant consent with inviting experts as permanent collaborators of the working groups of the Council,
    8. propose the amount of remuneration of members of the Council and experts, if the entitlement pursuant to Article 9 of this Statute exists.
  4. During the absence of the Chairperson or based on the Chairperson’s authorization, one of the Vice-chairpersons shall chair meetings of the Council.

ARTICLE 5

MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL

  1. Members of the Council shall be obliged to attend meetings of the Council and meetings of the working groups whereof they are members (hereinafter “Council meetings”).
  2. Members of the Council shall have the right to present proposals to the Council and participate in the Council deliberations. They shall also have the right to attend the meeting of any working group of the Council.
  3. If a member of the Council is unable to attend a meeting, he/she shall be obligated to excuse himself/herself in advance to the Chairperson of the Council (via the Secretariat of the Council).
  4. A member of the Council shall be allowed to send his/her substitute to the Council meeting. Not later than prior to the commencement of deliberations of the Council, the substitute must present a written proxy signed by the member of the Council being represented.
  5. The substitute may only vote if expressly authorised in writing to do so by the member being represented in respect of the individual items of the agenda.
  6. Members of the Council shall have the right to propose amendments to the agenda of the Council, establishment and dissolution of working group of the Council, and inviting of experts and guests.

ARTICLE 6

WORKING GROUPS

  1. The Council may establish standing or temporary working groups (hereinafter „the working groups“) if necessary. Working groups shall have no statute of their own.
  2. A working group is usually chaired (headed) by a member of the Council. External collaborators may be invited to work in a working group.
  3. Working groups shall deal with specific issues falling within the scope of responsibilities of the Council; in particular, they shall draft underlying materials for Council meetings.

ARTICLE 7

EXTERNAL CO-OPERATION

  1. The Council may request co-operation from state administration employees who are not members of the Council or, as the case may be, from external experts (hereinafter „Experts“).
  2. Experts may, at the invitation of the Chairperson of the Council, participate in the work of the Council, either as ad hoc guests in relation to a specific issue, or may participate in the work of working groups as permanent collaborators.

ARTICLE 8

SECRETARIAT OF THE COUNCIL

  1. The activities of the Council (including the work of its working groups) shall be secured by the secretariat of the Council (hereinafter the „Secretariat“), being an organizational part of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.
  2. The Secretariat shall in particular
    1. provide for the administrative and organizational background of the activities of the Council,
    2. gather documents and information necessary for the Council’s work,
    3. draft expert underlying documentation for the Council’s work based on instructions of the Chairperson of the Council or the Vice-chairperson of the Council,
    4. update the information regarding the Council and its members posted on the Internet.
  3. The head of the relevant organizational part of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairsshall be responsible for the fulfilment of the tasks of the Secretariat
  4. The head of the Secretariat shall direct the work of the Secretariat as instructed by the Chairperson of the Council.
  5. One of the other employees of the Secretariat shall at the same time serve as the Secretary of the Council. The Secretary shall attend meetings of the Council and take the minutes of the Council meetings. The Secretary shall not be a member of the Council.

ARTICLE 9

COST OF ACTIVITIES AND REMUNERATION

  1. The usual costs of activities of the Council shall be covered from the budget of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. The meetings of the Council shall usually take place within the premises of the Ministry.
  2. Members of the Council shall not be entitled to any remuneration for performance of their office.
  3. Those members of the Council and experts who are not employees of the state or public administration shall, however, be entitled to remuneration for work demonstrably performed for the Council based on the Council’s order (i.e., as service) or based on a contract for work performed outside employment (agreement on performance of work, contract for work activities). Such order shall be made by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. The amount of remuneration shall be proposed by the Chairperson of the Council.
  4. On the proposal of the Chairperson of the Council, the reimbursement of travel expenses may be authorised in respect of an expert co-operating with the Council.

ARTICLE 10

RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE COUNCIL

  1. The Rules of Procedure of the Council shall provide for the manner of dealings and activities of the Council. Changes and amendments to the Council’s Rules of Procedure shall be subject to approval by the Council.
  2. Working groups shall deal informally and shall adopt their decisions on a consensual basis. Where necessary, their dealings shall be reasonably governed by the Council’s Rules of Procedure.

ARTICLE 11

CONCLUDING PROVISIONS

  1. Amendments to this Statute shall be subject to approval by the Government of the Czech Republic.
  2. This Statute shall be available to the public on the web page of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and web page of the Office of the Government.
  3. This Statute has come into force on 8 March 2021.

Poslední aktualizace: 6. 4. 2023