Lithuanian government decided to increase minimum wage

  • 2012-06-21

VILNIUS - On June 21, Lithuanian government decided to increase minimum monthly wage up to 850 litas (246 euros) starting Aug. 1, 2012. However, the Tripartite Council did not reach the consensus.

"The government, taking into account discussions with social partners that lasted throughout the year, made a decision to raise minimum wage up to 850 litas starting Aug. 1. [It is to increase] from August, so that the business sector can properly prepare for that," Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius told reporters after the government's meeting, informs LETA/ELTA.

Kubilius said that the minimum monthly wage cannot be raised higher due to current economic situation in the euro zone. However, Kubilius could not tell how much this will cost for the state budget.

Chairman of the Liberals Movement, Minister of Transport and Communications Eligijus Masiulis, who disagreed with a proposal to raise the minimum wage by 50 litas, said that the Liberals supported higher wages but the chosen way to raise them is inappropriate.

Masiulis said that the minimum wage should be increased timely and even by over 10 litas but decisions upon tax exemptions, improvement of business environment and others should be taken at first.

As reported, yesterday, the Tripartite Council, without the trade unions' participation in the sitting, decided to moderately.