Litvínov - It is shortly before 6am in Janov, a prefab neighbourhood in the north Bohemian town of Litvínov. Pavel Kubas, an entrepreneur from Brno wearing a leather jacket, and his brother David are meeting a group of some 20 people wearing rubber boots.
They will spend the day clearing brushwood and scrap timber in the nearby woods for CZK 42 (EUR 1.6) per hour [editor's note: Czech minimum rate is CZK 48.1]. Until recently, these people were in long-term unemployment and for some this is their first job ever. Most of them are local Roma.
Show people we go to work
"You put that camera away or I'll smash it," says a young woman with a headscarf in a threatening voice. Others regard the presence of journalists as something to liven up their day and they are rather amused by the special company.
"Let them be - let them take pictures so people can see we go to work," says an inconspicuous Rom with a portable radio under his arm. His name is Patrik Demeter and he works for Kubas along with his brother and fiancée. He says there is no other work.
After all, these people have rather negative experience with journalists. "They always show pictures of the yucky stuff, including mess around garbage bins; but we are not all like that," says a likeable young Romani woman who introduces herself as Monika. Later in the day she also gives us her surname - Demeterová.
Kubas's firm Bauherr comp gives work to some 35 previously unemployed people in north Bohemia. The firm has another such team in Šumava (Bohemian Forest) in south Bohemia and there is also some work in Moravia.
Besides paying CZK 42 per hour, Kubas helps his staff sort out their debts, lawsuits and housing issues. He has been present in north Bohemia for three months now. Next year he wants to expand the business, saying he will have work for 800 people.
Teach them responsibility
After everyone finishes their cigarette, Kubas starts to organise the departure.
"We found out it's cheaper to buy used Škoda Favorit cars than hire a bus," he says. "It also teaches them responsibility - you have a car, you have to take care of it. If you don't have a driving licence, you have to find someone who'll drive you to work."
The day starts with a complication: The foreman of the whole north Bohemian unit cannot start the engine of his van. One of the workers says she knows someone who could drive them.
"Five hundred to drive you to work plus fuel money? He must be kidding. That's unfair," says Kubas, annoyed. After a while he strikes a deal with the driver - he will only hire him for two days until they find some cheaper transport.
"There must be clearly defined rules that must not be compromised at any cost," says Kubas. He will repeat the same sentence several times during the day whenever he is explaining the purpose of his business.
Tough work for meagre pay
Finally, the group divides into teams that drive off to their sites in Krušné hory (Ore Mountains) forests. One of the teams, including six Roma from Janov, four Roma from Chomutov and three Gadji (Romani word for non-Roma), go to remove scrap timber from new clearings above Místo near Chomutov.
First, they make a fire and then start struggling with frozen tree branches, covered with snow. The batteries in Patrik's radio fail in the freezing air.
The enthusiasm differs considerably, with some working at a slower pace and spending more time at the fire, and others working hard. North Bohemian foreman Stanislav Kanči, a short Rom from Chomutov living on a disability pension, admits things are far from ideal.
"The loggers have already complained. This was supposed to be done last week," Kanči tells his boss. Later, Kubas adds that initially he almost lost the contract. "But in the end we persuaded them that we are able to work," he says.
Visibly tired but energetic, Kubas runs back and forth among stumps, occasionally shouting on someone to work harder. His mobile phone keeps ringing as foremen of other Krušné hory groups call him for advise.
On the side he says: "Today we'll have a scandal. The police are coming. One guy allegedly robbed a shop, although he says it wasn't him. Such a skilled and hard-working boy; I hope he'll be back."
No one else will hire us
Before noon, the Kubas brothers drive away to bring snacks. As soon as their SUV disappears behind trees, the work pace ebbs. Many take a break to warm up at the fire. They speak about their previous employment experience.
"I was trained as a cook and waitress. I call somewhere and they tell me they have, say, two vacancies, come to see us. But as soon as I show up, they tell me the jobs have been taken," says Jana Facunová (31). "I have a Czech name - but when they see I am Romani, that's the end."
Monika Demeterová (24), trained as a shop assistant, has a similar story: "It's enough if I introduce myself and they don't have any vacancies. When my Czech boyfriend calls, they do."
"Every now and then someone shows up in Janov looking for temps, but then they don't pay them," says Monika's elder brother Bartoloměj. "For example, guys in Janov have been digging for a month and a half without pay."
Others nod their heads. All of them have come across such conmen. But Kubas has been paying them so far. The regard the forest work as a necessity. If they managed to find something better, they would quit without hesitation. "But there is no other work," says each one of them.
