Background information

In the first wave of the pandemic, when there was a critical shortage of medical supplies and aids, private companies that did not have the production of it in the production program also helped to secure them. One such company was Czech Prusa Research , a company producing 3D printers and other accessories.

Content of measure

Following an agreement and abbreviated homologation from the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic (Ministerstvo zdravotnictví České republiky, MZ ČR ), this company began producing coronavirus shields on its printers which have been supplied free of charge to medical facilities, social services facilities, and components of the Czech rescue system. The shields serve as protection against drops and spraying. The company has also released an open source model of shields that can be printed by companies around the world.

The company also takes exemplary care of its employees. Since the beginning of the pandemic, it has introduced protective measures, including the provision of protective equipment. Once a month, each employee can get tested for COVID-19 for free. The company also fully reimburses its employees for 15 days of illness.

Use of measure

The company was able to produce 2,000 pieces a day, produced a total of them in the period from March to October 2020 and delivered about 250,000 for the amount of about CZK 8,000,000 (€296,296), which 1/3 was roughly covered by funds obtained from the public collection.

Contents

• Work organisation

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Applies to all businesses	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government Company / Companies	Companies Other

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	No involvement	No involvement
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: Company level

Involvement

Social partners weren´t involved.

Views and reactions

Social partners weren´t involved.

Sectors and occupations

This case is not occupation-specific.

Sources

• 30 November 2020: Protective shields for doctors and professionals (www.prusa3d.cz)