Page:NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE SURVEY 18; CZECHOSLOVAKIA; THE SOCIETY CIA-RDP01-00707R000200110015-7.pdf/23

 APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200110015-7

1971, 107,000 housing units were completed, along with 1970 the best construction record ever, but this number still fell almost 40% short of the 150,000.

Before 1964 the largest proportion of housing units were built by the state, but since then cooperative and private construction has become numerically more important. In 1971, construction by the state numbered 17,000 of the 107,000 units, construction by enterprises numbered 22,000, construction by private individuals numbered 29,000, and construction by cooperatives numbered 39,000. Most of the government-provided housing consists of plainly but functionally designed multistoried apartment buildings. Individual homes remain prevalent in rural areas.

The quality of the housing stock is also unsatisfactory as 71% of the units were built before 1946 including 20% before 1900. Aside from the relative decrepitude of these units because of their age, a large proportion of them lack modern conveniences. The new housing are quite modern, but the majority of them are of relatively low quality prefabricated construction. Of the units built in 1971 by the state, cooperatives, and enterprises, for example, 87.7% were supplied with gas, 99.3% with hot water, 98.6% with central heating, and 93.6% with built-in furniture. The proportion of the housing stock supplied with gas increased from 19.1% in 1961 to 30.3% in 1970, the share having central heating rose from 8.1% to 29.4%, and the share having a bathroom/shower went up from 33.3% to 57.2%.

In 1960, Czechoslovakia completed the electrification of all villages and the number of housing units supplied with electricity reached 98.6% in 1970. At the latter date, over three-quarters of all units had their own water supply; however, the proportion (47.1%) of units linked to the sewage system was still relatively low.

Preliminary results of the 1970 census also showed some other improvements in housing since 1961. The number of available housing units increased by 10.7%, whereas the population increased only by 4.5%. The number of rooms per housing unit increased from 1.77 in 1961 to 2.12 in 1970, and the flood space, excluding kitchen and bathroom, increased from 374 square feet to 425 square feet. Although the number of persons per unit dropped only slightly—from 3.58 to 3.38—the units were larger and provided somewhat more space for each person.

4. Work opportunities and conditions

a. The manpower problem and worker satisfaction

The main factor affecting work and work opportunities in Czechoslovakia is the virtual absence of a labor reserve. Almost half the population is economically active (490 per 1,000 compared to 418 in the United States in 1972). Most of these persons work in the socialized (state-owned and cooperative) sector of the economy; the 2.5% in the nonsocialized sector include mainly farmers and craftsmen. Although the labor force of the Czech Lands has long been composed basically of industrial workers and small businessmen, the occupational structure in Slovakia has changed radically during the past 30 years as the impoverished farmers who formerly dominated the labor force have been surpassed in number by those working outside agriculture. The labor reserves that Slovakia provided in the past is now minimal as that part of the country catches up with the more heavily industrialized Czech Lands. In 1973, more than 90% of those persons capable of working were already employed. Moreover, the present annual increase in employment of approximately 70,000 is expected to decline to less than 20,000 by 1980, and the working-age population is expected to stagnate and eventually decline within a few decades.

Numerous measures have been enacted to attract additional persons into the labor force and to retain those already employed. The measures have been particularly directed at 15-year-olds, housewives, and pensioners. For young persons, the regime is combining work-school programs and shortening apprenticeships. In addition, the Socialist Youth Federation has organized a campaign to utilize students at the secondary and college levels during their vacations. Special attention is being given to the problem of the working mother. Part-time positions are being created and the already extensive day care system is being expanded. The Husak regime has looked increasingly to retired persons as a source of manpower. In addition to offering higher wages, the regime is allowing pensioners to work 4 months each year without a reduction in pension. It also is requiring individuals who wish to qualify for the increased benefits available under the 1970 pension law to actively seek work. The regime is expected to rely more heavily in the future on foreign manpower, particularly from Poland and Yugoslavia, both of which have surplus labor. Agreements are being negotiated with Yugoslavia, and many Polish laborers are already working in border areas.

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APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200110015-7