Introduction

On 5 May 1995 the first Agreement about tripartite partnership was signed by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, the trade unions and the employers organisations. It was agreed to solve social, economic and labour problems on the basis of the tripartite principle, to co-operate in implementing the social, economic and labour policy. On 30 May 1995 the first meeting of the Tripartite Council was held in which the Chairman of the Council was elected, procedural issues of the activity of the Tripartite Council were discussed, the agenda of the next meeting was drawn up and it was decided to establish the Secretariat of the Tripartite Council.

On 27 June 1995 a second meeting of the Tripartite Council was held in which the first eight issues were addressed - concerning the involvement of the representatives of farmers organisations in the Tripartite Council, concerning the amendment of the Law on Trade Unions of the Republic of Lithuania, concerning the establishment of private pension funds, the establishment of sanctions imposed for organising illegal employment, concerning the payment of the sickness benefit from the funds of the employer for the first three days of sickness and others.  

SUMMARY

of social-economic issues considered at the meetings of the Tripartite Council of the Republic of Lithuania in 1995-2004

During the whole period of May 1995 till December 2004 the total of 78 meetings of the Tripartite Council were held in which 548 issues were addressed.

Including (for example): 

The following issues considered are worth mentioning:

• draft Laws on Declaration of Income Tax and Property of the Inhabitants, as well as Real Estate Taxes and Levies;
• problems of management of the State Social Insurance Fund;
• amendments of the Laws on Employment Contract, Regulation of Collective Disputes, Support of the Unemployed;
• amendments of the Administrative Code concerning control over illegal employment;
• tendencies of the increase in commodities and services;
• the draft Law on Safety of Workers at Work;
• the package of draft Laws on Social Security: 
  
  1. The draft Law on the Fundamentals of Social Security.
  2. The draft Law on Social Insurance.
  3. The draft Law on Social Insurance of Accidents at Work or Occupational Diseases.
  4. The draft Law on Social Insurance of Sickness and Maternity.
  5. The draft Law on Premium Tariffs of State Social Insurance.
  6. The draft Law on Social Assistance in Cash.
  7. Other issues:
     • the draft Law on the Guarantee Fund; 
     • the draft Law on the Amendment of Enterprise Bankruptcy Law; 
     • the draft Law on Restructuring of Enterprises;
     • the problems the establishment of labour courts; 
     • the role of the social partners in preparing for membership in the European Union; 
     • issues of the minimum hourly pay rate (minimum monthly wage) and the untaxable minimum;
     • issues of the vacations;     
     • issues of tripartite partnership;  
     • business development problems;  
     • issues of the employment and unemployment; 
     • the draft of the Labour Code;  
     • etc.

Some projects related to the activity of the Tripartite Council were considered at the Tripartite Council and Parliament

1. The draft of amendment of and supplement to Sections I and V of the Law on Collective Bargaining (Collective Agreements) and Employment Contracts. The project was commenced to be prepared in 1998 seeking to legalise the Tripartite Council and tripartite agreements. The Project was considered by Seimas (Parliament) on October 2001. 
2. The Labour Code was adopted by Seimas in 2002 year. Eight articles of Code (39-46) are appointed for regulation of social dialogue in Lithuania:
   
   • Reconciliation of Interests of Labour Relations Subjects; 
   • Concept and Principles of Social Partnership;
   • Parties of Social Partnership; 
   • Levels of Social Partnership;
   • Forms of Social Partnership;
   • System of Social Partnership; 
   • Tripartite Council of the Republic of Lithuania; 
   • Other Trilateral and Bilateral Councils (Commissions, Committees).

Edited on: 11/06/2009