Lithuania

In Memoriam - Juozas Neverauskas, the President of the Lithuanian Industry Trade Union Federation
Juozas Neverauskas, the President of the Lithuanian Industry Trade Union Federation (LPPSF), died after fighting a serious illness on the 4th September. Juozas was 71. He was President of the union for the last 14 years.
Substantial increase in minimum wage
The monthly and hourly minimum wage rates are set to rise by just over 9%, taking the monthly amount to EUR 607 and the hourly rate to EUR 3.72. The minimum wage is discussed in a tripartite council which takes into account a number of factors but the increases are also linked to specific targets - since 2017 it was stipulated that the ratio of the minimum wage to the average wage should be kept between 45% and 50%. It is also linked to trends in minimum and average wages across the European Union.

North East European constituency addresses Congress, gender equality and European integration
The changes to the labour codes, reform of social protection and health systems and the experience with privatization were some of the issues addressed by the union leaders of the constituency.
Major breakthrough as unions sign agreement for social service workers
Public service unions have made a major breakthrough after three years of negotiations following the signing of a sector collective agreement covering workers in social services. Around 1000 social workers, social worker assistants and home care employees will see a range of improvements to pay and conditions, including a 4.3% rise in the minimum coefficient used to calculate salaries along with further increases for specific groups of workers. There are other measures to compensate workers covering for absent colleagues and for using private cars. The agreement will only apply to union

Hospital social partners - "A sound mind in a sound body - taking care of those who take care of us"
Social Partner’s Conference on Occupational Safety and Health focusing on prevention and reduction of MSD and PSRS@W - A sound mind in a sound body - Taking care of those who take care of us
East-West pay convergence stalls
Bulgaria
Croatia
Czech Republic
Estonia
Hungary
Latvia
Lithuania
Poland
Romania
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
An analysis by the European Trade Union Institute shows that wage convergence between East and West in Europe was steady up until 2008. However, since then the trend has either stalled or gone into reverse. Taking national average pay as a percentage of the average across the pre-2004 EU15, Croatia and Hungary show the largest increase in the pay gap since 2008. There were also increases in Slovenia, Czech Republic, Poland and Romania.Most progress was made in Bulgaria but from a very low level (11.8%) to 17.7%, still less than a fifth of average pay in the West.
ETUI update on labour law developments in Lithuania
(May 2017) The revised labour code has been a major issue of debate in Lithuania for the last three years. The ETUI research organisation has just published a an update on this and other labour market, industral relations and pensions developments in the country. This is part of the ETUI's Reform Watch website covering all EU Member States.
Unions continue to push for labour code changes
(May 2017) The new labour code is set to be implemented in July although trade unions want it deferred to January 2018 with further amendments in line with the proposals of the President. The code has been discussed in the Tripartite Council but it was unable to find consensus on many issues. President Dalia Grybauskaite has been a consistent critic of the amended code and argues that if adopted in its current form then it would have to be amended immediately to provide better protection for workers' and trade union rights.
Equality, organizing, PSI congress and social rights discussed in North East European constituency in Yerevan
The discussions with the representatives of the Armenian ministry of social affairs and social protection became very animated when the issue of the right to strike was considered.
Protests against CETA continue in advance of vote in European Parliament
(24 January 2017) Workers and others continue the protests against CETA in actions across Europe 21 January. From Madrid to Riga demonstrations underlined what the impact of the trade agreement between Canada and the EU would mean. Public service and industrial unions, environmental and consumer