A project focused on employment of convicts at a call centre begins

• The project is another step aimed at helping to increase the employment of convicts
• Building and improving work habits can facilitate their integration and prevent future commission of criminal offences
• Within the project, the public administration will obtain data for additional programmes 

Prague, 29 August 2016 - The Prison Service of the Czech Republic, in partnership with A-Giga and with support from the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and T-Mobile, is launching a new CSR project involving employment of convicts incarcerated at Vinařice Prison. The project consists of a new call centre built inside the correctional facility. Recidivism among the convicts who took part in the original project (from 2012) is 18% compared to the national average of nearly 70%. This social innovation is also supported by the European Social Fund. 

According to Justice Minister Robert Pelikán, this is one of the planned steps implemented at prisons that can help increase the employment of convicts. “The employment of convicts is my major priority. We know from foreign experience that having the right work habits is one of the key weapons against recidivism of convicts. I have therefore endeavoured to ensure that all convicts who can work do so. The call centre project is another step that will help us reach this objective,” said Robert Pelikán. 

The state annually spends CZK 9 billion on administration of the prison system, with the monthly costs per prisoner reaching several tens of thousands of Czech crowns. The convicts participating in this initiative signed an employment contract directly with the prison and their remuneration is set by law.  They can thus repay their debts and the costs of their imprisonment and they can also possibly support their families. Deputy Labour and Social Affairs Minister Martin Kučera sees the Změna je možná – chci změnu (“Change Is Possible – I Want to Change”) project as a possible means of carrying out comprehensive testing of a new tool that will reduce recidivism and obtaining valid data that can also be taken into consideration within other projects that relate to prisoners. 

“The project involving a call centre at Vinařice Prison is enjoying our significant support. It is another step towards fulfilling the new prison system concept until 2025 in the area of employment of prisoners, which is very important. Their work activity fulfils the purpose of imprisonment and work helps them find the meaning in their stay behind bars. Work helps convicts build or improve their work habits which, in turn, will help them find a job after they are released from prison, live a normal life and avoid committing any further crimes,” says Petr Dohnal, Director General of the Prison Service. 

“As an innovative and socially responsible company, we appreciate the societal benefit of this activity. We believe that this social innovation will rank us among developed modern countries where the employment of prisoners is quite common,” says Milan Vašina, Managing Director at T-Mobile Czech Republic and Slovak Telekom, adding: The originator of this meaningful project is our long-term and proven  partner, A-Giga. The benefits and exceptional nature of the project are also evidenced by the fact that the activities of A-Giga in this area have received the SozialMarie award, the oldest European prize for social innovation, that was presented by the Austrian foundation Unruhe.” 

Backed by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and the Ministry of Justice of the Czech Republic, the project will also be launched under the auspices of the European Social Fund. 

The whole project will be very demanding, not only in terms of the involvement of several ministries but also in terms of the selection of prisoners. As Věra Babišová, Executive Director of A-Giga, says: “Working convicts must successfully undergo a retraining course accredited by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports for the call-centre operator jobs. During the two years of the project, 400 persons will first be pre-selected, of whom approximately 90 will be included in the project following additional expert consultations and successful completion of the retraining course. “The appropriateness of a person to be included in the project will be assessed by an expert committee of Vinařice Prison, which will be composed of  qualified employees (head of corrections, physician, psychologist, special pedagogue and social worker, and well as employees from the security, prevention, and economic and administration units). 

The initiative is also viewed positively by Anna Kadeřábková, associate professor at the Centre of Innovation Studies at VŠEM, who is an expert sponsor of the project and points to the possibility of solving the social problem of extremely high recidivism rates in the Czech Republic: “Attempts at social innovation are interesting human stories, most of which, however, fail because they are confronted with reluctance, misunderstanding, lack of interest, fear of change and other limitations. This project is unique in the European context in that it involves a bottom-up innovation that is based on the initiative of the private sector to tackle a social problem, which is an example of an innovative social business strategy.” 

 

CONTACTS FOR THE MEDIA

 

Prison Service of the Czech Republic
Directorate General
Spokesperson
Petra Kučerová
Soudní 1672/1a
140 67 Praha 4
E-mail: pkucerova@grvs.justice.cz
GSM:  608 110 043  

Ministry of Justice of the Czech Republic
Spokesperson
Mgr. Tereza Schejbalová 
Ministry of Justice of the Czech Republic
Vyšehradská 16, 128 10 Praha 2
Phone:  +420 221 997 254
GSM:     +420 602 643 275
E-mail:  tschejbalova@msp.justice.cz 

A-GIGA s.r.o.
Ing.Věra Babišová
Ibsenova 5, 120 00  Praha 2
Phone: 224 250 812
GSM: 603 50 60
E-mail: vera.babisova@giga.cz 

Centre of Innovation Studies at VŠEM
Member of the SozialMarie Jury
Doc. Anna Kadeřábková
E-mail: kaderabkova@inovacevsem.cz

T-Mobile Czech Republic, a member of the international telecommunications group Deutsche Telekom, has almost 6.2 million customers, the number-one operator in the Czech market. T-Mobile is an integrated operator: in addition to telecommunications services, it offers comprehensive ICT solutions not only for companies, but also for other organizations and individuals. It provides outstanding services in the high-speed network, which was proved repeatedly by benchmark testing performed by umlaut (former P3) with Best-in-Test seal.

T-Mobile Czech Republic places emphasis on taking a responsible approach to the environment and society. It adheres to fair business practices, helps beneficial applications and services to see the light of day, supports non-profit organizations, small businesses and individuals, and lends a helping hand whenever crisis situations arise. The company’s employees serve as volunteers in many places across the entire Czech Republic.

More information about the company is available at www.t-mobile.cz, www.t-press.cz (the portal for journalists) and www.t-mobile.cz/pomahame (information on the company’s CSR activities).

Contact details of the press unit: press@t-press.cz.