On 23 June, marking the International Day of Public Service, the Lithuanian Healthcare Workers’ Trade Union, the Lithuanian Industry Trade Union Federation, the Lithuanian Law Enforcement Officers’ Federation, the Lithuanian Trade Union of Civil Servants, Budgetary and Public Institution Employees, and the Lithuanian Federation of Public Service Trade Unions, representing more than 19,000 members and serving as the Lithuanian affiliates of the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU), join the “Public Services Emergency campaign” and call for immediate measures to strengthen the public sector.
The organisations stress that public services have reached a critical point and require urgent investment rather than further funding cuts.
Public Services Are Delivered by People
Healthcare and social care workers, civil servants, law enforcement and uniformed officers, as well as specialists in energy, utilities and other vital sectors, are the backbone of a strong state. Their daily work ensures public safety, people’s health, effective public administration, energy security and other essential services on which the quality of life of every resident depends.
However, both Lithuania and the rest of Europe are facing the same challenges in the public sector: critical staff shortages, an ageing workforce, increasing workloads and wages that are not sufficiently competitive.
Years of underinvestment have made it increasingly difficult to attract new professionals and retain experienced employees. When there are not enough workers, the accessibility and quality of services inevitably decline, affecting every member of society and weakening the resilience and security of the state.
To draw public attention and highlight these concerns to decision-makers, public service workers across Lithuania took part in a symbolic photo campaign, holding signs calling for responsible action. Through this initiative, they are sending a clear message both in Lithuania and beyond: behind every quality public service stand dedicated professionals whose work must be respected, valued and fairly rewarded.
According to the trade unions, public funds must be used responsibly and contribute to the creation of quality jobs.
Public procurement should become not only a tool for securing the lowest price but also an instrument of social responsibility. Social criteria should be applied to encourage quality employment, respect for collective agreements and meaningful social dialogue. Public money should support responsible employers and generate greater value for society.
We cannot tolerate a situation in which public funds are awarded to employers who compete at the expense of workers by suppressing wages, worsening working conditions or ignoring the voices of employee representatives.
A more competitive, secure and socially resilient Lithuania can only be built by investing in strong public services and the people who provide them every day. Cost-cutting at the expense of public sector workers weakens not only the quality of services but also the resilience of the state, social cohesion and economic competitiveness.
Only decisions based on dialogue can balance the interests of the state, workers and society, strengthen trust in public institutions and help build sustainable and resilient public services.
Therefore, the trade unions representing public service workers in Lithuania call on the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, the Seimas and other decision-makers to:
1. Recognise public services as a strategic national priority and ensure sustainable funding.
Public services are not a burden on the budget; they are an investment in national security, economic resilience, public health, social cohesion and overall societal well-being.
2. Ensure decent and competitive wages in the public sector.
Pay must be sufficient to attract young professionals, retain qualified workers and guarantee the continuity and quality of public services.
3. Improve working conditions and address staff shortages.
Burnout, constant overtime and covering vacant positions through excessive workloads must not become the norm used to compensate for systemic labour shortages. The public sector must provide a safe, attractive and motivating working environment.
Only constructive cooperation with trade unions and strong collective agreements can deliver long-term, sustainable solutions that ensure quality public services and adequate protection for workers.
Today, we remind everyone of a simple but fundamental truth: without proper investment in people, there can be no quality public services. And without strong public services, there can be neither a competitive economy nor a socially resilient Lithuania.
The time to act is NOW. Investing in public services means investing in the future of our country.