Life satisfaction
Data source: 2016 EQLS survey
Ability to choose or change
methods of work
Data source: 2015 EWCS survey
Possibility to accumulate overtime
for days off
Data source: 2013 ECS survey
Living and working in Lithuania
20 May 2020
- Population: 2.8 million (2019)
- Real GDP growth: 3.6% (2018)
- Unemployment rate: 6.2% (2018)
Data source: Eurostat
Eurofound provides research, data and analysis on a wide range of social and work-related topics. This information is largely comparative, but also offers country-specific information for each of the 28 EU Member States, which included the UK prior to its withdrawal from the European Union on 31 January 2020. Most information is available in English but some has been translated to facilitate access at national level.
Eurofound strives to strengthen the ongoing link between its own work and national policy debates and priorities related to quality of life and work. Increasingly important in this context is the Europe 2020 growth and jobs strategy launched in 2010, which has five headline targets, covering employment through to social inclusion and poverty reduction. The strategy is implemented in the context of the European Semester process – the EU's annual cycle of economic policy guidance and surveillance – which ensures that Member States keep their budgetary and economic policies in line with their EU commitments through, in part, National Reform Programmes. These programmes form the basis for the European Commission's proposals for country-specific recommendations (CSRs) for each Member State.
European Commission: The European Semester
European Commission: The European Semester - EU country-specific recommendations
European Commission: European Semester documents for Lithuania
2015 Eurofound EWCS survey results in Lithuania: 37% of people consider their job affecting their health negatively
Living and working in Lithuania and COVID-19
COVID-19 continues to have a profound impact on people’s lives across the globe, with major implications for quality of life and work. Eurofound has taken a multipronged response to the pandemic, adapting its research focus in a variety of ways. A new database of national-level policy responses, COVID-19 EU PolicyWatch, collates information on measures taken by government and social partners, as well as company practices, aiming to cushion the effects of the crisis. Eurofound launched an e-survey in early April, Living, working and COVID-19, to capture the immediate economic and social effects of the crisis across the European Union and beyond. The survey investigates the impact on well-being, work and telework and on the financial situation of people living in Europe. The first findings for each country, as well as a range of data pages are now available.
Explore our data pages by country to find out more on the situation in Lithuania.
The country page gives access to Eurofound's most recent survey data and news, directly related to Lithuania:
- Living in Lithuania - country-level data from the European Quality of Life Survey (EQLS)
- Working life in Lithuania - key characteristic of working life across a range of parameters.
Research carried out prior to 31 January 2020, and published subsequently, may include data relating to the 28 EU Member States. Following this date, research only takes into account the 27 EU Member States (EU28 minus the UK), unless specified otherwise.
Survey results
Recent developments
Eurofound contacts in Lithuania
Correspondents in Lithuania
Correspondents report on topics related to developments in the country's working life and inform Eurofound’s pan-European comparative analysis. Read more
Labour Market Research Institute DRTI of the Lithuanian Social Research Centre LSTC
Eurofound Management Board members from Lithuania
Eurofound's Management Board is made up of representatives of the social partners and national governments of all Member States, European Commission representatives and an independent expert appointed by the European Parliament. Read more
Rita Skrebiškienė Ministry of Social Security and Labour
Danukas Arlauskas Lithuanian Business Employer's Federation
Kristina Krupavičienė Lithuanian Trade Union 'Solidarumas' (LPS)
Living in Lithuania
Quality of life
Quality of life
Overall, the quality of life indicators have experienced positive developments in Lithuania during the years of observation in Eurofound’s European Quality of Life Survey (EQLS). Life satisfaction has increased in Lithuania in recent years, from 5.4 in 2003 to 6.5 in 2016, therefore advancing towards the respective EU28 average of 7.1 (on a scale of 1–10). Similarly, the share of respondents reporting difficulties in making ends meet has decreased from 84% in 2003 to 57% in 2016. However, the share is still higher than the EU28 average of 39% in 2016. In 2016, 69% of respondents in Lithuania were optimistic about their children’s or grandchildren’s future, which was higher than the average of 57% for the EU28 respondents.
| 2003 | 2007 | 2011 | 2016 | ||
| Life satisfaction | Mean (1-10) | 5.4 | 6.3 | 6.7 | 6.5 |
| Taking all things together on a scale of 1 to 10, how happy would you say you are? | Mean (1-10) | 6.5 | 7.3 | 7.0 | 7.0 |
| Optimism about own future | Agree & strongly agree | - | - | - | 63% |
| Optimism about children’s or grandchildren’s future | Agree & strongly agree | - | - | - | 69% |
| Take part in sports or physical exercise | At least once a week | - | - | 33% | 38% |
| In general, how is your health? | Very good | - | 11% | 11% | 11% |
| WHO-5 mental wellbeing index | Mean (1-100) | - | 58 | 58 | 62 |
| Making ends meet | With some difficulty, difficulty, and great difficulty | 84% | 64% | 68% | 57% |
| I feel I am free to decide how to live my life | Strongly agree | - | - | 24% | 28% |
| I find it difficult to deal with important problems that come up in my life | Agree & strongly agree | - | - | - | 26% |
| When things go wrong in my life, it generally takes me a long time to get back to normal | Agree & strongly agree | - | - | - | 28% |
Work-life balance
Work-life balance
Based on the EQLS, the perceived work–life balance in Lithuania is relatively close to the EU28 average. In 2016, 53% of respondents in Lithuania have reported coming home too tired from work to do some of the household jobs which need to be done at least several times a month, compared with the EU28 average of 59%. Also, 41% of respondents in Lithuania said they found it difficult to fulfil family responsibilities because of work at least several times a month, compared with the EU28 average of 38%. Regarding the third work–life balance indicator, 21% of respondents said they found it difficult to concentrate at work because of family responsibilities, while the respective EU28 average was 19%.
| 2003 | 2007 | 2011 | 2016 | ||
| (At least several times a month) | |||||
| I have come home from work too tired to do some of the household jobs which need to be done | Total | 52% | 53% | 43% | 53% |
| Men | 46% | 54% | 39% | 50% | |
| Women | 58% | 52% | 47% | 56% | |
| It has been difficult for me to fulfil my family responsibilities because of the amount of time I spend on the job | Total | 37% | 40% | 32% | 41% |
| Men | 37% | 43% | 31% | 40% | |
| Women | 36% | 36% | 33% | 42% | |
| I have found it difficult to concentrate at work because of my family responsibilities | Total | 12% | 15% | 11% | 21% |
| Men | 11% | 15% | 9% | 19% | |
| Women | 13% | 15% | 13% | 23% | |
Quality of society
Quality of society
Perceived tensions between poor and rich people have decreased in Lithuania since 2011, from 60% reporting a lot of tension in 2011 to 51% in 2016. However, this is still significantly higher than the EU average of 29% in 2016. An opposite development can be observed in perceived tensions between different racial and ethnic groups: the share of respondents reporting a lot of tensions has increased continuously since 2003, reaching 20% in 2016. Yet, this share remains much lower than the EU28 average of 41% in 2016.
| 2003 | 2007 | 2011 | 2016 | ||
| Social exclusion index | Mean (1-5) | - | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.2 |
| Trust in people | Mean (1-10) | 5.0 | 4.4 | 4.7 | 4.6 |
| Involvement in unpaid voluntary work | % 'at least once a month' | - | - | 8% | 5% |
| Tension between poor and rich people | % reporting 'a lot of tension' | 62% | 47% | 60% | 51% |
| Tension between different racial and ethnic groups | % reporting 'a lot of tension' | 11% | 16% | 16% | 20% |
| I feel safe when I walk alone after dark | Strongly agree | - | - | - | 24% |
Quality of public services
Quality of public services
Quality ratings for seven public services
Note: scale of 1-10, Source: EQLS 2016.
The perceived quality of many public services has increased in Lithuania in the recent years of observation in the EQLS. For instance, the perceived quality of health services increased from 5.1 in 2003 to 6.3 in 2016, but was still lower than the EU28 average of 6.7 in 2016 (on a scale of 1–10). Similarly, the perceived quality of public transport increased from 6.3 in 2003 to 7.0 in 2016, rising above the EU28 average of 6.6. However, the perceived quality of the state pension system has decreased in Lithuania from 5.0 in 2003 to 3.8 in 2016, which is also lower than the EU28 average of 5.0.
| 2003 | 2007 | 2011 | 2016 | ||
| Health services | Mean (1-10) | 5.3 | 5.2 | 5.2 | 6.3 |
| Education system | Mean (1-10) | 6.0 | 6.1 | 6.0 | 6.5 |
| Public transport | Mean (1-10) | 6.3 | 6.7 | 6.2 | 7.0 |
| Childcare services | Mean (1-10) | - | 6.6 | 6.4 | 6.9 |
| Long-term care services | Mean (1-10) | - | - | 5.5 | 6.0 |
| Social housing | Mean (1-10) | - | - | 5.5 | 4.9 |
| State pension system | Mean (1-10) | 5.0 | 4.4 | 4.0 | 3.8 |
Working life in Lithuania
About
- Author: Inga Blaziene and Rasa Mieziene
- Institution: Lithuanian Social Research Centre
- Published on: Monday, November 18, 2019
This profile describes the key characteristics of working life in Lithuania. It aims to complement other EurWORK research by providing the relevant background information on the structures, institutions and relevant regulations regarding working life. This includes indicators, data and regulatory systems on the following aspects: actors and institutions, collective and individual employment relations, health and well-being, pay, working time, skills and training, and equality and non-discrimination at work. The profiles are updated annually.
Highlights – Working life in 2019
Highlights – Working life in 2019
Highlights updated on: 28 February 2020
For more information, see working paper:
Lithuania: Developments in working life 2018
The year 2019 could be characterised as a year of positive developments in social dialogue. Social partners at the Tripartite Council of the Republic of Lithuania (TCRL) and members of parliament looked at ways to foster social dialogue through adaptation and implementation of new legislation promoting social dialogue. A number of sectoral collective agreements were signed. In addition, a national (public sector) collective agreement for 2020 was signed and bargaining on long-term financing of the public sector was initiated. Moreover, at the end of 2019, social partners at the TCRL agreed to establish a Bipartite Social-Partner Commission for Competence Building.
To promote social dialogue, a Law on the Promotion of Social Dialogue was drafted and discussed during 2019. The draft law provides for a mediation mechanism that would be activated to assist problem-solving in collective bargaining or when expert assistance is needed. The draft law outlines forms of state aid that could be applied to social partners, including relief from taxes and charges, promotional scores in public tendering and support projects, measures of financial support, provision of administrative services and consultations, organisation of training, and additional guarantees to employee and employer representatives.
On 10 July, a national collective agreement was signed by Minister for Social Security and Labour Linas Kukuraitis and 15 trade unions providing for wage increases in the public sector in 2020. The agreement is relevant to some 286,000 employees whose wages will increase. In addition, during 2019 a number of sectoral collective agreements in the state border guard service, education, social services and transport sectors were signed.
At the end of 2019, social partners agreed to set up a Bipartite Social-Partner Commission for Competence Building at the TCRL. The commission aims to identify the competences needed by the social partners to participate more effectively and timely in the various forms of social dialogue. It will also consider proposals from the parties and make recommendations to the TCRL for capacity building and empowerment of the social partners. In addition, it will analyse and evaluate the performance of the parties in the area of social partners’ competence building and report its findings to the TCRL.
Despite these positive developments, 2019 was also a year of protest actions and campaigns, organised by trade unions and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Besides the 1 May mass protest action, organised by the Lithuanian trade unions, NGOs and political organisations (representatives of people with disabilities, LGBT, young people, higher-education institutions, and the medical profession) a number of smaller campaigns were organised throughout the year by educational trade unions, academics, officers, farmers, drivers, doctors and lawyers. Many of these actions were organised at the end of 2019 and were related to the adoption of the national budget.
Key figures
Key figures
Comparative figures on working life in Lithuania
|
2012 |
2018 |
% (point) change 2012-2018 |
||||
|
Lithuania |
EU28 |
Lithuania |
EU28 |
Lithuania |
EU28 |
|
|
GDP per capita |
10,300 |
25,700 |
13,300 |
28,200 |
29.13% |
9.73% |
|
Unemployment rate – total |
13.4 |
10.5 |
6.2 |
6.8 |
-7.20 |
-3.70 |
|
Unemployment rate – women |
11.6 |
10.6 |
5.4 |
7.1 |
-6.20 |
-3.50 |
|
Unemployment rate – men |
15.2 |
10.4 |
6.9 |
6.6 |
-8.30 |
-3.80 |
|
Unemployment rate – youth |
26.7 |
23.3 |
11.1 |
15.2 |
-15.60 |
-8.10 |
|
Employment rate – total |
71.8 |
71.7 |
77.3 |
73.7 |
5.50 |
2.00 |
|
Employment rate – women |
70.1 |
65.5 |
75.8 |
68.3 |
5.70 |
2.80 |
|
Employment rate – men |
73.7 |
77.8 |
78.9 |
79.2 |
5.20 |
1.40 |
|
Employment rate – youth |
29.3 |
42.4 |
36.5 |
41.7 |
7.20 |
-0.70 |
Source: Eurostat - Real GDP per capita (chain linked volumes [2010], in EUR) and percentage change 2012-2018 (both based on tsdec100). Unemployment rate by sex and age - annual average, % [une_rt_a]; Employment rate by sex and age - annual average, % [lfsi_emp_a].
Background
Background
Economic and labour market context
Between 2012 and 2018, there was robust growth in GDP (29.13%), while the EU average GDP growth was 9.73% during the same period. Unemployment rates fell substantially during the six years, in particular youth unemployment (down 15.6 percentage points); the 2018 unemployment rate for this category was 11.1%, below the EU average of 15.2%. Total unemployment was 6.2%, compared to the EU average of 6.8%. Employment rates increased in 2012–2018, with the largest increase among young people (7.2 percentage points), in contrast to the EU average decrease of 0.7 percentage points for the same period. Youth employment, at 36.5%, remained lower than the EU average of 41.7% in 2018.
- More European Commission: EURES – Living and working in Lithuania
- European Industrial Relations Dictionary: Undeclared work
- Data: Tackling undeclared work in Europe
Legal context
In Lithuania, labour relations (both individual and collective) of workers hired under employment contracts are regulated by the Labour Code of the Republic of Lithuania No XII-2603 (Labour Code). The mentioned legal act was adopted by the Lithuanian Parliament on 14 September 2016 and it came into force on 1 July 2017. The new Labour Code liberalised work regulation and legitimised more flexible relations between employers and employees in Lithuania.
Certain aspects of employment relationships of civil servants (their status, remuneration for work, etc.) are regulated in Lithuania by the new Law on the Civil Service No VIII-1316, approved on 29 June 2018, in force from 1 January 2019.
The procedure of establishing and functioning of trade unions is regulated by the Law on Trade Unions of the Republic of Lithuania, No I-2018, approved on 21 November 1991.
The status of works councils, the procedure for their establishment, and other aspects of their activities are regulated by the new Labour Code, which has replaced the former Law on Works Councils of the Republic of Lithuania. The Law Amending the Law of the Republic of Lithuania on European Works Councils No XI-1507, approved on 22 June 2011, is also valid in Lithuania.
Industrial relations context
The history of independent Lithuanian trade unions and employers’ organisations is relatively short. Though trade union density during the Soviet period was very high, Lithuanian unions began to play a more substantial role in industrial relations only after the reconstitution of independent Lithuania at the beginning of the 1990s.
During the Soviet period, the government was the only employer and independent employers’ organisations were established only after 1990.
The new Labour Code valid since 1 July 2017 established representativeness criteria for social partners to be represented at the Tripartite Council of the Republic of Lithuania (LRTT). At the beginning of 2019, three trade unions and six employers’ organisations were represented at the LRTT. Trade unions comprise: Lithuanian Trade Union Confederation, Lithuanian Trade Union ‘Solidarumas’ and the Federation of Lithuanian Trade Unions ‘Sandrauga’ (the last one joined the Council in 2017 only). Employers’ organisations comprise: the Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists, the Confederation of Lithuanian Employers, the Association of Lithuanian Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Crafts, the Chamber of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania, the Investor’s’ Forum and the Lithuanian Business Confederation (the last two joined the Council in 2017 only). These organisations participate regularly at the national-level social dialogue. The dominant level of collective bargaining in Lithuania is company level. Although sectoral level collective bargaining is least developed, in 2017–2018 several sectoral collective agreements were signed in the education, health care, social care sectors covering for the first time wage-related issues.
Actors and institutions
Actors and institutions
Trade unions, employers’ organisations and public institutions play a key role in the governance of the employment relationship, working conditions and industrial relations structures. They are interlocking parts in a multilevel system of governance that includes the European, national, sectoral, regional (provincial or local) and company levels. This section looks into the main actors and institutions and their role in Lithuania.
Public authorities involved in regulating working life
The main authority involved in regulating working life in Lithuania is the Ministry of Social Security and Labour (SADM). The SADM is responsible for labour policy making and organises, coordinates and controls the implementation of the policy.
The State Labour Inspectorate (VDI) supervises occupational safety and health, as well as compliance with laws regulating labour relations, other legislation and legal provisions on collective agreements.
The main national-level social dialogue institution – the LRTT – deals with social, economic and labour problems, and other issues of public relevance. It recommends solutions to the problems while implementing the principle of social partnership.
The Civil Service Department (VTD) ensures compliance with the Law on the Civil Service of the Republic of Lithuania and other legal instruments related thereto in Lithuania.
The new Labour Code introduced a new definition of collective disputes and some new features in their regulation. As of 1 July 2017, labour disputes are divided into two categories: (1) labour disputes (whether individual or collective) about rights; and (2) collective labour disputes about interests (before 1 July 2017, labour disputes in Lithuania were classified into individual labour disputes and collective labour disputes).
There are two bodies for settling disagreements between the employer and employee (that is, labour disputes about rights) – courts and labour disputes commissions (LDC). The latter (LDC) is a mandatory body for pre-trial hearing of individual labour disputes. LDC hearings are based on the tripartitism principle, involving participation of a VDI representative and social partners (that is, representatives of employer and employee organisations) in dispute hearings. The chair of the LDC is appointed by the Chief State Labour Inspector of the Republic of Lithuania and the other two members of the commission are appointed from among representatives of trade unions functioning within the jurisdiction of local VDI offices and of employer organisations.
The resolution system of collective labour disputes about interests covers disputes commissions, mediation and labour arbitration.
The main tripartite OHS institution in Lithuania is the Commission to the LRTT for Occupational Safety and Health.
Representativeness
The new Labour Code valid since 1 July 2017 established representativeness criteria for the social partners to be represented at the Tripartite Council of the Republic of Lithuania (LRTT). The most important of these are membership in international organisations, having members or representatives in different regions/sectors, being active for at least three years, covering at least 0.5% of countries employees for TUs and having at least 3% of salaried employees of the country employed within their companies for employer organisations (for more details, see Art. 185 of the Labour Code).
The representativeness when concluding collective agreements is established by the organisation itself in its incorporation documents. For a trade union/employer organisation to have the right to conclude collective agreements at sectoral or cross-sector level, it has to state that it is a sectoral or national trade union/employer organisation in its by-laws (incorporation documents).
More information on representativeness of the main social partner organisations can be found in Eurofound’s sectoral representativeness studies.
- Topic: Representativeness
Trade unions
About trade union representation
According to the Law on Trade Unions, natural persons having legal capacity in employment relationships shall have the right to freely join national, sectoral or local (territorial) trade unions and participate in their activities. Membership in a trade union founded at enterprise level or at structural-unit level shall be limited to employees of the enterprise or the structural unit concerned.
Information on trade union membership has been collected by the Lithuanian Statistics Department (STD) since 2006. Trade union membership in Lithuania in general is quite low and during the last decade it has been steadily decreasing. According to Lithuanian Statistics, between 2011 and 2017 the number of trade union members in Lithuania fell from 108.9 to 92.1, with trade union density thus falling from 9.7% to 7.7%.
Low trade union density is highly determined by the absence of social dialogue traditions at company level and some peculiarities of public and private sectors. For example, in the public sector, all the main employment and working conditions, including remuneration issues, are rather strictly regulated by the national legislation, therefore in the public sector usually there is too little room for manoeuvre for collective bargaining – this impedes rise in trade union membership in the sector. The Lithuanian economic structure also contributes to low trade union density. There is a high prevalence of companies with up to 50 employees accounting for more than 95% of the total number of entities operating in Lithuania and employing about 50% of the total number of workers of the country. As a rule, the smallest companies have the least developed industrial relations.
Trade union membership and trade union density
|
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
Source |
|
|
Trade union density in terms of active employees |
10.1 |
9.7 |
9.0 |
8.4 |
8.1 |
7.9 |
7.7 |
7.7 |
Authors’ calculations based on Lithuanian Statistics Department data |
|
Trade union membership in 1000s |
112.6 |
108.9 |
102.3 |
95.3 |
94.2 |
92.0 |
91.5 |
92.1 |
Lithuanian Statistics Department data on membership organisations, www.stat.gov.lt |
Main trade union confederations and federations
At the beginning of 2019, three trade union organisations were represented at the LRTT. They participate regularly in national-level discussions/negotiations at the LRTT and also in sectoral level bargaining. National trade unions and their members – sectoral – trade unions also participate in the dominant company-level collective bargaining through consultation and legal support to company-level trade unions.
Main trade union confederations and federations
|
Long name |
Abbreviation |
Members |
Involved in collective bargaining |
|
Lithuanian Trade Union Confederation |
LPSK |
27 sectoral trade unions (2019) 50,000 members (1 September 2018) |
Yes |
|
Federation of Lithuanian Trade Unions ‘Sandrauga’ |
LPSF ‘Sandrauga’ |
10 sectoral trade unions (2019) 10,000 members (2018) |
Yes |
|
Lithuanian Trade Union ‘Solidarumas’ |
LPS ‘Solidarumas’ |
16 sectoral and 21 regional trade unions (2019) 14,000 members (2018) |
Yes |
In the past 20 years, the main trade union organisations appear to have been transformed from competing and confronting organisations into closely cooperating ones, acting on a coordinated basis. In recent years, there have been no fundamental changes in the background and general setting in which the trade unions operate.
Employers’ organisations
About employers’ representation
Employers have the right to join organisations that represent their interests in compliance with the principle of the freedom of association.
Information on employers’ organisations membership has been collected by the STD since 2006. According to Lithuanian Statistics, between 2011 and 2017 the number of employers’ organisations members in Lithuania increased from 12,200 to 13,400 thousand. The density of employers’ organisations during 2006–2014 was rather stable – around 20% of companies operating in Lithuania were members of such organisations; this share started decreasing in recent years only – in 2015–2017 it was close to 16–17%.
Main employers’ organisations
At the beginning of 2019, six employers’ organisations were represented at the LRTT. They participate regularly in national-level negotiations at the LRTT and their sectoral members also participate in sectoral-level bargaining.
Main employers’ organisations and confederations
|
Long name |
Abbreviation |
Members |
Year |
Involved in collective bargaining* |
|
Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists |
LPK |
51 sectoral, 7 regional associations and 25 direct member companies. Over 3000 member companies in total |
2019 |
Yes |
|
Lithuanian Business Employers’ Confederation |
LDK |
1,800 member companies |
2018 |
Yes |
|
Association of Lithuanian Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Crafts |
LPPARA |
5 regional associations |
2019 |
Yes |
|
Chamber of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania |
LZUR |
41 regional and sectoral associations |
2019 |
Yes |
|
Investor’s’ Forum |
IF |
59 member companies |
2019 |
Yes |
|
Lithuanian Business Confederation |
ICC Lietuva |
128 member companies |
2019 |
Yes |
Notes: *Negotiations at LRTT
Tripartite and bipartite bodies and concertation
There are several tripartite councils and commissions in Lithuania. Most are specialised and operate at national level, while some are also active at regional level. The main tripartite organisation, the LRTT, was established in 1995 following the agreement on trilateral partnership between the Lithuanian Government, the trade unions and the employer organisations in accordance with the provisions of the International Labour Organization (ILO) in its Tripartite Consultation (International Labour Standards) Convention (Convention No. 144) of 1976. According to the parity principle, the LRTT consists of 21 members, including seven representatives each from the trade unions, employer organisations and LRV. Several councils and commissions, dealing with particular areas of social and working life, function under the LRTT – Labour Relations Commission, Wage Policy Commission, Committee of Culture, Committee of Education, Bipartite Commission of Civil Servants.
According to the law, legislative drafts that are submitted to the government on relevant labour, social and economic issues should be agreed in advance with the LRTT. During recent years, the main issues discussed at the LRTT were related to the new Labour Code, liberalisation of labour relations, the minimum monthly wage, as well as current social and economic issues.
There are also other tripartite councils and commissions operating in some state institutions. As a rule, they deal with the particular areas (for instance, education, labour market policy) or issues (for instance, European Social Fund, migration) that the institutions are responsible for.
Similar types of tripartite committees/commissions also function at regional level – there are tripartite councils of the regions, and various local level public institutions have tripartite committees/commissions.
Main tripartite and bipartite bodies
|
Name |
Type |
Level |
Issues covered |
|
Tripartite Council of the Republic of Lithuania |
Tripartite |
National |
Labour market and social guarantees related issues |
|
Tripartite Council of the Public Employment Service |
Tripartite |
National |
Labour market and employment issues |
|
Tripartite Council of the State Social Insurance Fund Board |
Tripartite |
National |
State social insurance issues |
|
Occupational Health and Safety Commission |
Tripartite |
National |
OHS issues |
|
Lithuanian National Tripartite Council of the Health System |
Tripartite |
National |
Employment and working conditions of health care employees |
Workplace-level employee representation
According to the Labour Code in force since 1 July 2017, workers’ representatives consist of trade unions, works councils or trustees. A company-level trade union can be set up where it has at least 20 employees as founders or where its founders account for at least 10% of the total employees of the company, provided this is equivalent to three or more employees.
Since 1 July 2017, an employer is required to initiate the formation of a works council when the average number of employees in the company is 20 or more. A works council shall not be set up in a unionised company where more than one third of the total employees of the company are members of the trade union. According to the Labour Code, in the company with less than 20 employees a workers’ trustee should be elected.
Regulation, composition and competences of the bodies
|
Regulation |
Composition |
Competences of the body Involved in company level collective bargaining? |
Thresholds/rules when they need to be/can be set up |
|
|
Trade union (Profesinė sąjunga) |
Law |
Trade union members |
Yes |
A company-level trade union can be set up where it has at least 20 employees as founders or its founders account for at least 10% of the total employees of the company, provided this is equivalent to three or more employees. |
|
Works council (Darbo taryba) |
Law |
Employees of the company |
No |
Since 1 July 2017, an employer is required to initiate the formation of a work council when the average number of employees in the company is 20 or more. A works council shall not be set up in a unionised company where more than one third of the total employees of the company are members of the trade union. According to the Labour Code, in a company with less than 20 employees a workers’ trustee should be elected. |
Industrial action and disputes
Industrial action and disputes
Legal aspects
As of 1 July 2017, labour disputes in Lithuania are divided into two categories: (1) labour disputes (whether individual or collective) over rights; and (2) collective labour disputes over interests (before 1 July 2017, labour disputes in Lithuania were classified into individual labour disputes and collective labour disputes).
According to the Labour Code:
A strike is a suspension of employees’ work organised by a trade union or their organisation in order to resolve a CLD over interests or ensure the performance of the decision adopted in the process of the dispute resolution. In terms of duration, a strike may be a warning strike, which may not be longer than two hours, or a real strike action.
From 1 July 2017, the right to take a decision to call a strike is given only to the trade union or trade unions’ organisation; the decision to call a strike at company level requires approval by at least one-fourth of the total members of the trade union. Calling a strike in a sector (of production, services, profession) requires a relevant decision from the representative body. The employer or employer organisation and its individual members must be given a written notice at least three working days before the beginning of a warning strike or at least five working days before the beginning of a real strike. When a strike is declared, only the demands which were heard by the labour disputes commission, labour arbitration or in the mediation process may be put forward.
Industrial action developments 2012–2017
|
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
|
|
Working days lost per 1000 employees |
n.a |
n.a |
1.6 |
n.a |
33.4 |
0.46 |
|
Number of strikes (warning strikes) |
6 (187) |
0 |
33 (45) |
0 (296) |
242 (0) |
0 (1) |
|
Number of employees participated in the strikes (warning strikes), persons |
121 (5,437) |
0 |
693 (898) |
0 (7,126) |
6,295 (0) |
0 (2,205) |
|
Total working days lost during strikes (warning strikes) |
1,260 (1,820) |
0 |
1,418 (296) |
0 (2,428) |
35,646 (0) |
0 (552) |
|
Length of a strike (warning strikes) per employee, days |
10.41 (0.33) |
0 |
2.05 (0.33) |
0 (0.34) |
5.66 (0) |
0 (0.25) |
Source: Strikes. Database of Lithuanian Statistics Department, www.stat.gov.lt
Dispute resolution mechanisms
Collective dispute resolution mechanisms
As written above from 1 July 2017, labour disputes in Lithuania are divided into two categories: (1) labour disputes (whether individual or collective) over rights; and (2) collective labour disputes over interests.
Collective (as well as individual) labour disputes over rights are examined by the Labour Disputes Commission and the courts. Commercial arbitration tribunals may also deal with labour disputes. The body dealing with CLD over rights is entitled to impose a fine of up to €3,000 on a party which is in violation of the provisions of labour law or agreements between the parties. The fine is imposed in favour of the other party. According to the new Labour Code, disputes over dismissal and removal from work, as well as disputes over property and non-property damages, shall fall within the field of competence of the Labour Disputes Commission.
According to the new Labour Code, CLD over interests should be at the first instance resolved before a commission for CLD over interests formed by both parties (Dispute Commission). The Dispute Commission has ten calendar days to resolve the CLD over interests unless otherwise provided by consensus of the Dispute Commission. The work of the Dispute Commission ends with one of the following decisions adopted by mutual consent:
- To pronounce the CLD over interests resolved in the event of entering into a collective agreement or reaching another agreement on the matter of the CLD over interests;
- To pronounce the CLD over interests unresolved;
- To resolve the CLD over interests by engaging a mediator;
- To transfer the CLD over interests to labour arbitration.
Individual dispute resolution mechanisms
As written above, individual labour disputes over rights are examined by the Labour Disputes Commission and the courts.
Use of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms
|
Use of dispute resolution mechanisms |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
|
Number of appeals submitted to Labour Disputes Commission |
n.a. |
5,302 |
5,323 |
5,358 |
5,574 |
6,675 |
Source: State Labour Inspectorate, www.vdi.lt
Individual employment relations
Individual employment relations
Individual employment relations are the relationship between the individual worker and their employer. This relationship is shaped by legal regulation and by the outcomes of social partner negotiations over the terms and conditions governing the employment relationship. This section looks into the start and termination of the employment relationship and entitlements and obligations in Lithuania.
Start and termination of the employment relationship
Requirements regarding an employment contract
According to the Labour Code, in Lithuania a person shall acquire full legal capacity in employment relationships when he/she reaches the age of 16 years. However, certain work activities may be performed by minors who are 14 years old. Basic requirements regarding the recruitment of minors have been set out in the Labour Code; the Law of the Republic of Lithuania on Health and Safety at Work No IX-1672; and the Schedule approving the procedure for recruitment, work and vocational training of persons under eighteen years of age and conditions of children employment, approved by Government Resolution No 518.
According to the Labour Code, an employer shall ensure that an employee is allowed to work only upon signing an employment contract. When concluding an employment contract, the employer must introduce the person being employed against his signature to the conditions of his potential work, acts regulating his work, which are in force at the workplace, requirements of OHS. Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, the employee must commence his work on the next day following the conclusion of the employment contract.
In every employment contract, the parties must agree on the essential conditions of the contract: the employee’s functions and place of work, as well as on the conditions of remuneration for work.
Dismissal and termination procedures
According to the Labour Code effective since 1 July 2017, an employment contract (EC) expires: (1) when the EC is terminated by agreement between the parties; (2) when the EC is terminated on the initiative of one of the parties; (3) when the EC is terminated at the employer’s will; (4) when the EC is terminated without the parties’ will; (5) upon the death of one party (natural person) to the EC; (6) in accordance with the procedure established by the Minister for Social Security and Labour of the Republic of Lithuania when the location of the employer (natural person) or employer’s representatives cannot be determined; (7) on other grounds laid down by the Labour Code and other laws.
Comparing to the previously valid Labour Code, the new Labour Code provides for more possibilities for employers to dismiss employees, including a quick termination of employment by giving 3 days’ notice and lower severance pays.
The new Code also introduced shorter notices of termination when there is no fault on the part of employees. The revised notice period is one month or two weeks when employment was for less than one year (instead of two months provided for in the earlier version of the Code). These periods of notice are twice as long for employees who will be entitled to the statutory retirement pension within a period of five years and thrice as long for employees with a child under 14 or a disabled child under 18, also for disabled employees and those who will be entitled to the statutory retirement pension within a period of two years.
Severance pays are reduced as follows. Upon termination of the contract of employment at the employee’s initiative for substantial reasons (illness or disability of the employee, attainment of the old-age pension age, long-term inactivity of the company or non-payment of salary for two consecutive months), the employee will be paid a severance pay of his/her 2 average wages or 1 average wage when employment continues for less than one year (instead of 2 average wages in the earlier version of the Code). When employment is terminated at the employer’s initiative without the fault of an employee, the employee will be paid a severance pay of his/her 2 average wages, irrespective of his/her length of service within the company, or 0.5 average wage when employment was for a period of less than one year. These pays are considerably below the amounts set in the old Labour Code where they varied from 1 to 6 average wages depending on the employee’s length of service. However, the Labour Code stipulates that the dismissed employee shall additionally be paid a long-term service allowance in the procedure established by law, taking in account the employee’s continuous length of employment at that workplace. The benefits are payable to all employees (except for those from budgetary institutions and the Central Bank) who have worked under employment contracts and were dismissed on 1 July 2017 or later.
Furthermore, according to the new Labour Code (Art. 59), an employer may (with the exception of state and municipal institutions) dismiss an employee without indication of any reason by giving 3 days’ notice and paying a severance pay of at least 6 average wages. There are certain limitations applicable in this case – that a contract of employment cannot be terminated on the ground of employee’s participation in proceedings against an employer accused of a violation of law, or on discriminatory grounds (gender, sexual orientation, race, nationality, marital and family status, intention to have a child/children, etc.)
See also further information on:
Parental, maternity and paternity leave
According to the data of Lithuanian Statistics Department, in 2017, some 20,300 persons were on maternity/paternity leave with children aged under 1 year of age (7% of these were men). Meanwhile, 23,600 were on leave with children aged between 1 and 2 years of age (35% of these were men). In 2017, as compared to 2016, uptake of parental leave among men remained unchanged. In 2017, 16,000 men (about 50% of men to whom a child was born in that year), took paternity leave for a child aged up to 1 month of age (in 2016 this number was 16,3000 men).
Statutory leave arrangements
|
Maternity leave |
|
|
Maximum duration |
70 calendar days before childbirth and 56 calendar days after childbirth (in the event of complicated childbirth or birth of two or more children – 70 calendar days). |
|
Reimbursement |
The amount of maternity allowance (MA) in Lithuania is 100% of the allowance beneficiary’s reimbursed remuneration. The amount of reimbursed remuneration is calculated on the basis of the person’s insured income earned during twelve consecutive calendar months before the calendar month preceding the month in which the right to such allowance was acquired. The minimum monthly maternity allowance may not be less than six basic social insurance benefits (BSI) valid in the quarter preceding the date of becoming entitled to the allowance. In 1Q 2019, BSI in Lithuania amounts to €38 and the minimum maternity allowance is €228 per month. There is no ceiling applied to maternity allowance which makes 100% of the reimbursed remuneration. |
|
Who pays? |
State Social Insurance Fund (Valstybinis socialinio draudimo fondas, VSDF) |
|
Legal basis |
Law on Sickness and Maternity Social Insurance No IX-110 of 21 December 2000 |
|
Parental leave |
|
|
Maximum duration |
Parental leave is granted until the child reaches three years of age. A maternity (paternity) allowance is paid for the period of a childcare leave after the end of a maternity leave until the child is one or two years old. |
|
Reimbursement |
The amount of a maternity (paternity) allowance from the end of a maternity leave until the child turns one year old is 100% of the allowance beneficiary’s reimbursed remuneration, if the insured person chooses to receive this allowance until the child turns one year old. In this case, the amount of the allowance may not be higher than 2 AW valid in the quarter preceding the date of becoming entitled to the allowance. In Q1 2019, the maximum monthly maternity (paternity) allowance was approximately €1,871 (the insured person choosing to receive this allowance until the child reaches its first birthday). The minimum monthly maternity (paternity) allowance may not be less than six basic social insurance benefits valid in the quarter preceding the date of becoming entitled to the allowance. In Q1 2019, this sum amounted to €38 and the minimum allowance was €228. If the insured person opts for maternity (paternity) allowance valid until the child’s second birthday, the sum of the allowance from the end of maternity leave until the child’s first birthday is 70% of the reimbursed remuneration; up to the child’s second birthday it is 40% of the reimbursed remuneration. In 2019 Q1, the maximum maternity (paternity) allowance was approximately €1,310 per month for the first year and €749 for the second year. If the insured person chooses to receive a maternity (paternity) allowance until the child turns two years old, the second year fathers/mothers may work while in receipt of allowance without any reduction thereof. |
|
Who pays? |
State Social Insurance Fund |
|
Legal basis |
Law on Sickness and Maternity Social Insurance No IX-110 of 21 December 2000 |
|
Paternity leave |
|
|
Maximum duration |
In Lithuania, men are entitled to paternity leave for the period from the date of the birth of a child until the child is one month old. |
|
Reimbursement |
The amount of a paternity allowance in Lithuania is 100% of the allowance beneficiary’s reimbursed remuneration. The minimum monthly paternity allowance may not be less than six basic social insurance benefits (BSI) valid in the quarter preceding the date of becoming entitled to the allowance. In 1Q 2019, BSI in Lithuania amounts to €38 and the minimum allowance is €228. The amount of the allowance may not be higher than two AW valid in the quarter preceding the date of becoming entitled to the allowance. In 1Q 2018, this amount is approximately €1,871 per month. |
|
Who pays? |
State Social Insurance Fund |
|
Legal basis |
Law on Sickness and Maternity Social Insurance No IX-110 of 21 December 2000 |
Sick leave
In Lithuania, sickness allowances shall be granted in accordance with Article 5 (2) of the Law on Sickness and Maternity Social Insurance No IX-110 of 21 December 2000. Pursuant to Article 14 of this Law, the amount of sick pay (sickness allowance) for the first two calendar days of sick leave is paid by the employer and shall not be less than 80% and not more than 100% of the employee’s average salary. After the first two days, the employee is entitled to the sickness allowance paid by the State Social Insurance Fund (VSDF). In compliance with Law No XII-1329 of 13 November 2014 Amending Article 14 of Law on Sickness and Maternity Social Insurance (valid as of 1 January 2015), the amount of a sickness allowance paid with the VSDF resources from the third day shall make up 80% of the reimbursed remuneration of the allowance beneficiary. In 1Q 2019, the amount of sickness allowance for one day may not be less than €6.59 and not more than €87.92 (when the allowance is 100% of the reimbursed remuneration) or €70.34 (when the allowance makes 80% of the reimbursed remuneration).
A sickness allowance payable per month may not be less than 15% of the country’s AW (valid in the quarter preceding the month when temporary incapacity for work was established).
In the event of sickness or trauma, the sickness allowance is payable until the recovery of capacity for work or until the day of establishment of the level of capacity for work, or until the first day of participation in a vocational rehabilitation programme. In the event of dismissal from work, the sickness allowance is payable not longer than 5 calendar days of sickness following thereafter.
In accordance the Labour Code No XII-2603 it shall be prohibited to give notice of the termination of an employment contract and to dismiss from work an employee during a period of temporary incapacity for work, or during leave. If the employee becomes temporarily incapable for work or takes statutory leave during the period of notice, the expiry of the period of notice shall be postponed until the end of the temporary incapacity for work or leave (Article 64).
Retirement age
In compliance with the Law of the Republic of Lithuania on State Social Insurance Pensions (No I-549) and the Law of the Republic of Lithuania Amending Articles 21, 25, 33, 56, 57, and 67 of the Law on State Social Insurance Pensions (No XI-1436), the retirement age for both men and women in Lithuania is 65 years with effect from 28 June 2011. The retirement age has been increasing annually from 1 January 2012 by four months per year for women and by two months per year for men and this will continue until the statutory retirement age of 65 years, as established in the aforementioned law, is reached.
Pay
Pay
Pay: For workers, the reward for work and main source of income; for employers, a cost of production and focus of bargaining and legislation. This section looks into minimum wage setting in Lithuania and guides the reader to further material on collective wage bargaining.
During the last five years, gross average monthly earnings in Lithuania have been steadily increasing. Over the period 2013–2017, average monthly earnings in Lithuania increased by almost one-third (from €646.3 to €840.4). According to Statistics Lithuania, the average monthly earnings of men and women in 2017 were €910.1 and €772.5 respectively. The gender pay gap increased by 3.0 percentage points – from 12.2% in 2013 to 15.2% in 2017.
Analysis of average monthly earnings by economic activities shows that persons paid at the highest rate in 2017 were employed in financial and insurance activities (€1,544.1) and information and communication (€1,447.0); and the lowest salaries were in accommodation and food service activities (€563.6) and arts, entertainment and recreation (€684.3). In 3Q 2018 in Lithuania, the gross earnings (monthly) of part-time employees constituted around 41.8% of the earnings of all employees.
Average monthly earnings (gross) in Lithuania (Eur)
|
Total |
Men |
Women |
||||
|
2011 |
2017 |
2011 |
2017 |
2011 |
2017 |
|
|
Total economy (including individual enterprises) – all NACE activities |
592.5 |
840.4 |
637.0 |
910.1 |
551.2 |
772.5 |
|
Agriculture, forestry and fishing (A) |
475.0 |
741.9 |
488.3 |
758.8 |
445.7 |
703.4 |
|
Mining and quarrying (B) |
728.4 |
1043.4 |
731.9 |
1056.4 |
710.7 |
978.1 |
|
Manufacturing (C) |
578.7 |
872.5 |
660.3 |
978.9 |
480.8 |
736.1 |
|
Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply (D) |
840.2 |
1,046.5 |
864.5 |
1068.0 |
764.0 |
978.1 |
|
Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities (E) |
642.1 |
836.9 |
666.4 |
861.9 |
577.2 |
771.3 |
|
Construction (F) |
533.5 |
781,2 |
535.5 |
780.3 |
519.0 |
788.1 |
|
Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (G) |
512.6 |
789.4 |
579.5 |
896.6 |
455.6 |
699.4 |
|
Transportation and storage (H) |
558.7 |
774.2 |
552.0 |
752.5 |
579.0 |
853.9 |
|
Accommodation and food service activities (I) |
329.9 |
563.6 |
375.6 |
638.1 |
317.1 |
540.5 |
|
Information and communication (J) |
947.3 |
1,447.0 |
1062.0 |
1636.9 |
797.0 |
1163.2 |
|
Financial and insurance activities (K) |
1,127.5 |
1,544.1 |
1574.4 |
2057.0 |
937.2 |
1298.0 |
|
Real estate activities (L) |
540.7 |
762.8 |
576.3 |
800.4 |
491.2 |
713.0 |
|
Professional, scientific and technical activities (M) |
742.3 |
1,067.1 |
797.9 |
1181.2 |
694.8 |
980.3 |
|
Administrative and support service activities (N) |
490.0 |
714.9 |
798.8 |
1062.9 |
464.0 |
673.6 |
|
Public administration and defence; compulsory social security (O) |
775.6 |
1,029.4 |
798.8 |
1062.9 |
750.4 |
997.6 |
|
Education (P) |
585.3 |
724.7 |
601.0 |
761.5 |
580.7 |
714.7 |
|
Human health and social work activities (Q) |
616.6 |
826.6 |
778.5 |
1056.7 |
586.2 |
785.3 |
|
Arts, entertainment and recreation (R) |
465.7 |
684.3 |
514.1 |
738.1 |
439.1 |
655.1 |
|
Other service activities (S) |
475.8 |
695.8 |
570.3 |
800.8 |
427.2 |
639.5 |
Source: Lithuanian Statistics Department
Minimum wages
Lithuania is a country with a statutory minimum wage. According to Article 141 of the Labour Code, the minimum hourly pay and the minimum monthly wage in Lithuania is determined by the LRV on the recommendation of the LRTT. From 1 July 2016, in compliance with Resolution No 644 of 22 June 2016 on the minimum wage, the minimum monthly wage set by the LRV in Lithuania is €380 and the minimum hourly pay is €2.32. As of 1 January 2018, the minimum wage in Lithuania was increased to €400 and the minimum hourly pay to €2.45. This decision was approved by Resolution No 814 on the minimum wage of 11 October 2017.
In 2018, the amount of minimum monthly wage (i.e. €400) was not changed; in 2017, the amount of minimum monthly wage in Lithuania was changed once, in 2016 – twice. It should also be noted that in Lithuania the minimum monthly wage is not differentiated for different groups of workers.
Monthly minimum wage in Lithuania, 2013–2018
|
Period |
1 January 2013 – 30 September 2014 |
1 October 2014 – 30 June 2015 |
1 July 2015 – 31 December 2015 |
1 January 2016 – 30 June 2016 |
1 July 2016 – 31 December 2017 |
1 January 2018 – 1 January 2019 |
|
Amount |
€289 |
€300 |
€325 |
€350 |
€380 |
€400 |
Source: Lithuanian Statistics Department
For more information regarding the level and development of minimum wages, please see:
- Publication: Minimum wages in 2019 – Annual review
- Eurostat: Minimum wage statistics
Collectively agreed pay outcomes
For more detailed information on the most recent outcomes in terms of collectively agreed pay, please see:
- Topic: Collective bargaining
- Publication: Developments in collectively agreed pay 2000–2017
Working time
Working time
Working time: ‘Any period during which the worker is working, at the employer’s disposal and carrying out his activities or duties, in accordance with national laws and/or practice’ (Directive 2003/88/EC). This section briefly summarises regulation and issues regarding working time, overtime, part-time work as well as working time flexibility in Lithuania.
Working time regulation
Basic provisions regulating working time in Lithuania are established in the Labour Code No XII-2603 (Chapter VIII, Section 1). In accordance with the Labour Code (Article 112), the length of a working week in Lithuania is 40 hours, unless shorter working hours are statutorily established by labour laws or part-time work is agreed by the parties. Average working time, including overtime but excluding agreement on additional work, cannot exceed 48 hours within each period of seven consecutive days. Maximum of working time (overtime and additional job included) cannot exceed 12 hours per day and 60 hours per week. It is prohibited to work more than six days during seven consecutive days.
Where employee works under the cumulative working time regime, maximum working time within each period of seven consecutive days may not exceed 52 hours. This limit does not apply for work which is performed under the agreement on additional work or for standby duty. Summary working time regime can be introduced if there is business necessity and after liaising with employee representatives.
Maximum working time requirements may vary from those laid down by the Labour Code in transport, postal, and agricultural undertakings, energy, health care and social care establishments, as well as in some other sectors of economic activities. The peculiarities of working time and rest periods are established by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania or specified in collective agreements.
For more detailed information on working time (including annual leave, statutory and collectively agreed working time), please consult:
- Publication: Working time developments in the 21st century: Work duration and its regulation in the EU
Overtime regulation
Provisions regulating overtime in Lithuania are established in the Labour Code No XII-2603 (Chapter VIII, Section 1). In accordance with the Labour Code (Article 119), in Lithuania, an employer may assign overtime work only subject to an employee’s consent and/or in the following exceptional cases:
- when performance of unexpected works is needed for the public or to prevent accidents or dangers;
- when it is necessary to finish work or to eliminate a breakdown which may otherwise result in many workers having to interrupt their work or if materials/products may get spoiled or work equipment may break down;
- when it is provided for in the collective agreement.
According to the Labour Code, employee’s overtime work must not exceed eight hours in seven consecutive calendar days, unless an employee gives written consent to work up to 12 overtime hours per week. Maximum overtime may not exceed 180 hours per year, unless longer term is established under collective agreement.
In accordance with the Labour Code (Article 144), the overtime pay shall be at least one and a half times the hourly pay/monthly wages established for the employee. The overtime pay during public holiday shall be at least two and a half times the hourly pay/monthly wages established for the employee. For overtime during the night, the pay shall be at least double the rate of the hourly pay/monthly wages established for the employee.
Part time work
In Lithuania, part-time work is regulated by the Labour Code (Article 40). According to the Labour Code, in Lithuania part-time work is established by reducing the number of working hours per day, reducing the number of working days per working week or month, or both. The condition of part-time work may be established on a fixed-term or open-ended basis. Unless agreed otherwise, an employee who has agreed to work part-time has the right to request, not more than once every six months, that the part-time work conditions be changed. The employer must review this request and provide the employee with a reasoned decision within 10 working days.
During fulfilment of an employment contract, an employee who has been in an employment relationship with the employer for at least three years shall have the right to submit a written request to temporarily work part-time. The employer may only refuse to satisfy an employee’s request to temporarily work part-time for valid reasons.
Part-time employment accounts for quite a small proportion of work in Lithuania. In 2017, part-time employees constituted around 7.4% of total employees (EU28 average in 2017 = 18.7 %).
Persons employed part time in Lithuania and EU28 (% of total employment)
|
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
|
|
Total (EU28) |
18.6 |
19 |
19 |
19 |
18.9 |
18.7 |
18.5 |
|
Total (Lithuania) |
8.8 |
8.2 |
8.5 |
7.6 |
7.1 |
7.4 |
6.9 |
|
Women (EU28) |
31.4 |
31.8 |
31.7 |
31.5 |
31.4 |
31.1 |
30.8 |
|
Women (Lithuania) |
10.6 |
10.1 |
10.6 |
9.7 |
8.7 |
9.2 |
8.7 |
|
Men (EU28) |
7.7 |
8.1 |
8.2 |
8.2 |
8.2 |
8.1 |
8 |
|
Men (Lithuania) |
6.9 |
6.2 |
6.3 |
5.4 |
5.3 |
5.5 |
5.1 |
Source: Eurostat Labour Force Survey [lfsi_pt_a] – Persons employed part-time (20 to 64 years of age) – total and by sex.
As in the EU28, women in Lithuania work part time more often compared to men, although the share of women working part time in 2018 in Lithuania – 8.7% – is well below the EU average for the same year (30.8%).
Involuntary part-time
Involuntary part-time workers can be defined as those working part time because they could not find a full-time job.
Persons employed in involuntary part-time in Lithuania and EU28 (% of total part-time employment)
|
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
|
|
Total (EU28) |
27.7 |
29.3 |
29.6 |
29.1 |
27.7 |
26.4 |
24.8 |
|
Total (Lithuania) |
33 |
32.7 |
31.3 |
31.9 |
31.6 |
30.6 |
24.4 |
|
Women (EU28) |
24.5 |
26 |
26.3 |
25.7 |
24.6 |
23.2 |
22.1 |
|
Women (Lithuania) |
33.5 |
32.7 |
30.5 |
34.7 |
31.4 |
30.7 |
23.2 |
|
Men (EU28) |
38.5 |
39.9 |
40.2 |
39.9 |
37.6 |
36.2 |
33.4 |
|
Men (Lithuania) |
32.3 |
32.7 |
32.6 |
26.6 |
32 |
30.5 |
26.5 |
Source: Eurostat Labour Force Survey [lfsa_eppgai]- involuntary part-time employment as a percentage of the total part-time employment, by sex and age (20 to 64 years of age)
In Lithuania, in 2018 total involuntary part-time employment constituted 24.4% (EU28 – 24.8%). During 2012–2018, the share of involuntary part-timers in Lithuania slightly decreased. This indicator for women and men remained quite stable in Lithuania over the entire period from 2012 to 2018, standing at 26.5% for men and 23.2% for women in 2018.
Night work
In Lithuania, night work is regulated by the Labour Code (Article 117). According to the Labour Code, night time is defined as calendar time from 22.00 to 06.00. A night worker is an employee who:
1) works at night for at least three hours per working day (shift); or
2) works at night for at least one quarter of their working hours in a year.
Normally, a night worker should not work more than an average of eight hours per working day (shift) during a three-month accounting period unless a longer period is agreed in a collective agreement concluded at a higher level than that with the employer.
The night work pay shall be at least one and a half times the hourly pay/monthly wages established for the employee.
Shift work
There is no special definition of shift work in Lithuania. However, the employer in applying shift work has to strictly adhere to the Labour Code regulation on work and rest time (Chapter VIII). What is of relevance for shift work are the articles on summary recording of working time (Art. 115), working time mode (Art. 113), requirements regarding maximum working time (Art. 114) and minimum rest time (Art. 122), the working time mode of on-call work (Art. 118) and others.
Weekend work
Weekend work in Lithuania is treated as working on rest days. According to the Labour Code (Article 124), a rest day is a day free from work according to the working time regime. Labour Code regulates that Sunday shall be a general rest day. An employer may assign work on a rest day only with the consent of the employee, except in the case of summary recording of working time and in the cases set out in the CA. Work on a rest day which has not been provided for in the work (shift) schedule shall be paid at the double rate at least of the employee's wage. Overtime work on a rest day which has not been provided for in the work (shift) schedule shall be paid at the double rate at least of the employee's wage.
Rest and breaks
Provisions regulating rest time in Lithuania are established in the Chapter VIII of Labour Code (Section 2) Article 122. According to the aforementioned Article, a rest period is defined as time free from work. Employees shall be granted a break to rest and to eat not later than after five working hours. Unless a split regime is agreed by the parties, the break may not be shorter than thirty minutes and not longer than two hours.
The duration of uninterrupted rest between working days (shifts) may not be shorter than 11 consecutive hours. The duration of uninterrupted rest may not be shorter than 35 hours in a period of seven consecutive working days. For employees whose working day (shift) is longer than 12 hours (but no longer than 24 hours), the duration of uninterrupted rest may not be shorter than 24 hours.
The length, beginning and end of breaks, as well as other conditions are stipulated in the provisions of labour law and work (shift) schedules. Employees who cannot be granted a break to rest and to eat due to technical production conditions should be given the conditions to eat during their working time.
Employees working outdoors, under conditions involving professional risk and/or carrying out strenuous or mentally demanding work shall be granted special breaks whose length per day (shift) and the conditions of granting them shall be established by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania.
Working time flexibility
In accordance with Article 113 of the Labour Code, an employer may set a flexible working schedule for the employees. Employees working flexible schedules must be at the workplace during the fixed hours of a working day (shift) and may work the rest of the time of the working day (shift) before or after those hours. The fixed hours of the working day (shift) are determined by the employer. Such working hours may be changed upon giving the employee at least two working days’ notice. If so agreed with the employer, the fixed hours not worked during a working day (shift) may be carried over to another working day without prejudice to the requirements applicable to the maximum work time and the minimum rest time (Article 116).
Health and well-being
Health and well-being
Maintaining health and well-being should be a high priority for workers and employers alike. Health is an asset closely associated with a person’s quality of life and longevity, as well as their ability to work. A healthy economy depends on a healthy workforce: organisations can experience loss of productivity through the ill-health of their workers. This section looks into psychosocial risks and health and safety in Lithuania.
Health and safety at work
In Lithuania, the requirements of occupational safety and health are regulated by Law No IX-1672 of the Republic of Lithuania on Safety and Health at Work, as approved on 1 July 2003. The Law sets out the rights and obligations of employees and employers, the institutional system to ensure occupational safety and health, and establishes special provisions for the protection of individual groups of employees (pregnant employees, employees who have recently given birth, breast-feeding employees, employees under eighteen years of age, disabled employees). The law also regulates the general provisions of the procedure for assessing occupational risks and investigating accidents at work and occupational diseases.
Accidents per 1000 employees and % change from previous year
|
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
|
|
All accidents |
2,650 |
1,640 |
1,828 |
2,155 |
2,303 |
2,497 |
2,599 |
2,758 |
2,938 |
|
Percentage change on previous year |
-38.1 |
11.5 |
17.9 |
6.9 |
8.4 |
4.1 |
6.1 |
6.5 |
|
|
Per 1,000 employees |
2.1 |
1.4 |
1.6 |
1.9 |
2.0 |
2.2 |
2.2 |
2.4 |
2.5 |
Source: Eurostat, [hsw_mi01] and [lfsa_eegaed]
The number of accidents at work has been quite significantly growing in Lithuania since 2011. The highest growth y-o-y (17.9%) was reported in 2011. In 2016, the rate of accidents at work in Lithuania per 1,000 workers was 2.5.
According to the Lithuanian Statistics (Survey on accidents at work and occupational diseases), the total number of accidents at work was 3,585 in 2016. This shows a 7.6% increase compared to 2015 and a 33.9% increase compared to 2011.
Psychosocial risks
The Labour Court and Law on Safety and Health at Work of the Republic of Lithuania No IX-1672 determine the duty of the employer to ensure safety and health of workers at work in all aspects related to work. It is a general obligation for employers to carry out a risk assessment also for psychosocial factors. The main legal instrument regulating the assessment of psychosocial risks in Lithuania is the General Regulations on the Assessment of Professional Risk, approved by Order No A1-457/V-961 of 25 October 2012 of the Minister for Social Security and Labour of the Republic of Lithuania and the Minister for Health of the Republic of Lithuania.
According to the European Working Conditions Survey, in 2015, 43.0% of employees reported working to tight deadlines at least a quarter of the time; 31.0% said they worked more than 10 hours once or more per month; and 4.0% said they had been subjected to discrimination at work over the past 12 months.
Skills, learning and employability
Skills, learning and employability
Skills are the passport to employment; the better skilled an individual, the more employable they are. Good skills also tend to secure better-quality jobs and better earnings. This section briefly summarises the Lithuanian system for ensuring skills and employability and looks into the extent of training.
National system for ensuring skills and employability
In Lithuania, the main institution implementing skills development policy is the Ministry of Education and Science (SMM). The SMM shapes national policies in the area of education and qualifications and is responsible for the organisation, coordination and control of the implementation of the policy. The SMM is assisted by the SADM, which coordinates, analyses and evaluates the implementation of labour market and employment support policies (including vocational education and training of the unemployed), and by the Ministry of the Economy (UM), which organises prognostic studies of the labour market’s HR demand, generalises findings of current and perspective analyses of skills supply and demand on the labour market, and formulates conclusions and recommendations to the LRV and other public authorities/agencies.
Two main forecasting instruments Lithuania measure and assess labour market needs for labour and skills. The forecasting tools developed by the LLE help to compile a national forecast, job opportunity barometer and occupations map; this is supplemented by the qualifications (skills) map developed by the Research and Higher Education Monitoring and Analysis Centre (MOSTA).
On the national level the Lithuanian Vocational Education Council has been established to advise national education authorities on solving strategic VET issues. It consists in equal parts of representatives of State governance (SMM, UM and SADM) and municipal institutions and organisations representing employers’ and employees’ interests.
Another national level advisory institution is the Central Professional Committee (CPC). It coordinates strategic issues pertaining to development of the qualifications system. Its main roles are: to establish priority sectors for the qualifications system; discuss and suggest decisions regarding the qualifications system’s structure; advise on ensuring correspondence between qualifications and labour market needs; accredit competence assessment institutions. The committee members are representatives of State and municipality level governance, VET providers, social partners.
The main advisory bodies in designing VET provision are sectoral professional committees (SPC). 17 SPCs have been established in Lithuania. Members of SPCs represent employers, education and training providers, trade unions, and public organisations in specific sectors. The main roles of these committees are: to advise on sectoral qualifications and competences needed to acquire them; to set priorities for developing qualifications standards; and to endorse standards and analyse consistency of training programmes with the requirements prescribed in the standards.
The main measure designed to adapt HE/VET to the labour market needs is the inclusion of employers and associated business entities into the development of training/study programmes, programme implementation and assessment of graduates’ competences.
Training
In Lithuania, the SMM is the main national public institution responsible for training regulation and development. The Qualification and Vocational Education and Training Development Centre (KPMPC) also contributes to the implementation of the aforementioned activities. The KPMPC is an institution implementing the national VET development policy in Lithuania. The main functions of the KPMPC include the development of professional and VET standards, performance of prognostic studies of the demand for qualifications and adult education surveys, formation of the qualifications system and the assessment of formal VET programmes.
According to the 2013 European Company Survey, the largest share of employees in Lithuania receives none or less than 20% paid time off for training. According to the ECS data, the proportion of employees receiving paid time off for training is related not to the existence of workplace employee representation, but to the establishment size. For example the largest proportion of employees receiving paid time off for training in Lithuania was reported in the largest (250+) enterprises with no employee representation at establishment level – in such enterprises 62% of employees receive between 20% and 80% paid time off in the establishment. The smallest proportion of employees receiving paid time off for training is in the smallest enterprises (with 10–49 employees), both with and without employee representation at establishment or company.
Work organisation
Work organisation
Work organisation underpins economic and business development and has important consequences for productivity, innovation and working conditions. Eurofound research finds that some types of work organisation are associated with a better quality of work and employment. Therefore, developing or introducing different forms of work organisation are of particular interest because of the expected effects on productivity, efficiency and competitiveness of companies, as well as on workers’ working conditions. Ongoing research by Eurofound, based on EurWORK, the European Working Conditions Survey and the European Company Survey, monitors developments in work organisation.
More information on:
For Lithuania, the European Company Survey 2013 shows that between 2010 and 2013 51% of establishments with 10 or more employees reported changes in the use of technology, 54% introduced changes in ways to coordinate and allocate the work to workers, and 32% saw changes in their working time arrangements.
In 2015–2017 the Lithuanian Social Research Centre in cooperation with Vilnius University carried out a research project on the job quality and working conditions of home care workers. The representative survey covered a total of 421 home care workers from municipal and private home care agencies, accounting for around 28% of all the workers in this sector in Lithuania. The majority of respondents (84.6%) worked ‘usual’ hours, meaning fixed hours from Monday to Friday. About one in seven respondents had flexible working hours (14.3%). Although about two-thirds (66.7%) of respondents reported being satisfied with their existing workload, 18.1% felt their workload was too high. In addition, around 40% of the respondents said they could rarely or never arrange their working hours based on customers’ needs, while about 60% reported that they usually or always had this opportunity. Other significant findings included: painful or tiring physical work, including lifting or moving other people, was ‘often’ part of the work for 28.7% of respondents and ‘sometimes’ for 55.1%; and stress and emotional tension was experienced ‘often’ by 26.4% and ‘sometimes’ by 54.9%.
Research was conducted in Lithuania in 2014 with a focus on organisational culture in Lithuanian and foreign capital organisations. A total of 123 Klaipeda-based employees were interviewed (60 employees from Lithuanian capital companies and 63 – from foreign capital companies). Findings have shown that both Lithuanian capital companies and foreign capital companies have very similar sets of values (for instance, promoting novelties, promoting creativity, etc.) However, foreign capital companies place greater emphasis than Lithuanian capital companies on employees’ improvement and qualification development (40.7% vs. 24.4%) and on team work (44.7% vs. 28.5%).
A study on the Trends and Challenges in Public Sector Innovation in Europe was carried out in 2012 to identify the main patterns and characteristics of public sector innovation (PSI) in the European Union. The study results revealed that in Lithuania, improvement of organisation of public administration by promoting quality and performance management systems is an important aspect of PSI (for instance, ISO, Common Assessment Framework (CAF), European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM), and Balanced Scorecard). According to the study, the existence of a strong leader and qualified staff were key drivers of institutions leading public sector innovations in Lithuania.
Equality and non-discrimination at work
Equality and non-discrimination at work
The main legal acts ensuring equality and non-discrimination at work in Lithuania are the Law of the Republic of Lithuania on Equal Treatment (LET) No IX-1826 and the Law of the Republic of Lithuania on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men (LEOWM) No VIII-947.
The Law on Equal Treatment enshrines the equality of persons and prohibition against restrictions on human rights or extensions of privileges on the grounds of gender, race, nationality, language, origin, social status, belief, convictions or views. The LEOWM establishes general principles for ensuring equal rights between women and men and bans any form of discrimination with regard to gender.
The body responsible for ensuring the principle of equal opportunities in Lithuania is the Office of Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson (LGKT). The LGKT monitors and controls the implementation of the above laws by national and municipal authorities and agencies, education, research, study and other institutions, and employers.
Equal pay and gender pay gap
The equal pay for equal work principal in Lithuania is enshrined in Article 7 of the LET and Article 6 of the LEOWM, laying down that the same work or the work of equivalent value shall be equally paid for. In Lithuania, the implementation of the LEOWM is monitored and supervised by the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson. Each natural and legal person shall have the right to file a complaint with the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson concerning the violation of equal rights.
According to Eurostat figures, the gender pay gap (GPG) in unadjusted form in Lithuania was 14.4% in 2016. Compared to 2015, GPG increased by 0.2 percentage points (from 14.2% to 14.4%). In Lithuania, GPG indicators peaked in 2007 and 2008, reaching 22.6% and 21.6%, respectively. According to Statistics Lithuania, in 2017 GPG in Lithuania (including individual enterprises) was 15.2%.
Quota regulations
In Lithuania, there is no legal obligation for specific quotas in place, nor is there a quota for companies to employ certain (disadvantaged) groups of workers.
Working life links
Working life links
Employers
- LPK – Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists (Lietuvos pramonininkų konfederacija)
- LDK – Confederation of Lithuanian Employers (Lietuvos darbdavių konfederacija)
- LPPARA – The Association of Lithuanian Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Crafts (Lietuvos pramonės, prekybos ir amatų rūmų asociacija )
- LRZUR – Chamber of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania (Lietuvos Respublikos žemės ūkio rūmai )
- Asociacija Investor’s’ Forum
- Lithuanian Business Confederation | ICC Lithuania
Trade unions
- LPSK - Lithuanian Trade Union Confederation (Lietuvos profesinių sąjungų konfederacija)
- PS ‘Solidarumas’ - Lithuanian Trade Union ‘Solidarumas’ (Lietuvos profesinė sąjunga ‘Solidarumas’)
- Federation of Lithuanian Trade Unions (Lietuvos profesinė sąjunga ‘Sandrauga’)
Government
- SADM – Ministry of Social Security and Labour (Lietuvos Respublikos Socialinės apsaugos ir darbo ministerija)
- VSDF – State Social Insurance Fund (Valstybinio socialinio draudimo fondas)
- VDI – State Labour Inspectorate
Tripartite bodies
Bibliography
Bibliography
Cedefop (2013), Vocational education and training in Lithuania, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg.
Estep (2016), Evaluation of results, efficiency and impact of the 2007–2013 measure to facilitate social dialogue in Lithuania : Summary of the final report, Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Lithuania, Vilnius.
Inno Policy Trendchart (2012), Trends and challenges in public sector Innovation in Europe: Thematic Report 2012, European Commission, Enterprise and Industry Directorate-General, Brussels.
Paužuolienė J., Docienė V., Vaitiekus A. (2014), ‘Organisational culture research in Lithuanian and foreign capital organisations in Klaipeda’, Regional Formation and Development Studies, Vol. 2, No. 13, pp. 96–106.
Žalimienė L., Blažienė I., Miežienė R. (2017), Lankomosios priežiūros darbuotojų darbo vietos kokybė Lietuvoje . Filosofija. Sociologija. 2017. T. 28. Nr. 2, p. 151–159.
Statistics Lithuania, www.stat.gov.lt .
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