PRAGUE, April 30, 2026 — The Czech competition authority, Office for the Protection of Competition, has closed an investigation into a trade association for signmaking suppliers after the group removed a potentially anti-competitive provision from its ethical code.
The probe focused on a clause that restricted member companies from actively recruiting employees from other members, raising concerns about so-called “no-poach” agreements in labour markets.
Competition concerns over labour mobility
According to the authority, the provision could have limited employee mobility and negatively affected wages and working conditions.
“This arrangement could have harmed employees by restricting their ability to change jobs and improve their remuneration or working conditions,” said Vice-Chair Kamil Nejezchleb.
Case resolved without fines
The association—representing companies involved in producing advertising materials such as banners, signage and vehicle wraps—removed the clause after being contacted by the authority and replaced it with revised wording. It also informed its members of the changes.
In light of the cooperative approach and swift corrective action, the authority opted not to open formal administrative proceedings and did not impose a fine.
Officials also noted that the clause had not been enforced in practice, which contributed to the decision to resolve the case through competition advocacy rather than sanctions.
Growing focus on labour market restrictions
The case highlights increasing scrutiny of agreements that restrict hiring practices, including wage-fixing and no-poach arrangements, which competition authorities across Europe have identified as potential infringements of antitrust rules.
The Czech authority said it would continue to monitor such practices, emphasizing that labour market restrictions can fall within the scope of competition law even when embedded in industry codes or informal agreements.
