On March 17, representatives of trade unions and business associations met with the President of the Republic of Lithuania, Gitanas Nausėda. The meeting addressed issues related to demography and economic stimulation, as well as the upcoming European Council meeting on competitiveness taking place this week, among other topics.
The President emphasized that the development of a welfare state must not be halted due to external circumstances, and that the country’s structural problems must be addressed even under unfavorable macroeconomic conditions.
The discussion also covered actions to protect the competitiveness of the Lithuanian and EU economies and industry, particularly by accelerating the EU’s energy transition.
The President’s initiatives and proposals for the Seimas spring session were also discussed with social partners. He intends to propose tax incentives for families raising children, measures to activate household savings to address access to capital, a new labor migration model, and the possibility for industrial companies to temporarily and reversibly benefit from reduced electricity tariffs. Social partners broadly supported the President’s goals and legislative initiatives. It was noted that strengthening the country’s competitiveness requires expanding collective bargaining and creating quality jobs.
Dalia Jakutavičė, Acting President of the Lithuanian Trade Union Confederation, who participated in the meeting, highlighted the importance of safe implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) in workplaces, as well as the need for employee upskilling and reskilling, especially in regions. According to her, AI should not increase inequality but instead help reduce it and promote cohesion.
She also drew attention to the growing number of cases of migrant exploitation and human trafficking, and welcomed the President’s initiative to promote birth rates through financial measures. Additionally, she noted that trade unions view positively policies encouraging family support, employment of mothers with multiple children, and more flexible parental leave arrangements.
Photo: lrp.lt.