The Czech government on Friday approved a proposal to give civil servants who get Covid-19 vaccines an extra two days of holiday.

-I have not found other ways of motivating people to get vaccinated. Some people might criticise this as being unfair but I think it's fair- said Prime Minister Andrej Babis.

The billionaire politician, whose Agrofert food, chemicals and media holding employs thousands of people, also called on private businesses to follow the government's example.

-Every good employer and business owner knows they have to protect their employees, otherwise sick employees end up in quarantine and this will have a negative effect on the company- he said.

Some 4.7 million Czechs have been fully vaccinated -- out of a total population of 10.6 million people.

The Czech Republic has a strong movement against vaccines and other anti-Covid measures, which includes former president Vaclav Klaus in its ranks.