Hire soldiers, says Olekas

VILNIUS - As a response to Arvydas Avulis, head of the construction company Hanner, claiming that he cannot find employees to work for the salary of 5,000 litas (1,450 euros) per month, Lithuania’s Minister of National Defense Juozas Olekas, currently substituting for Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevicius, suggest hiring soldiers who are looking for job after their service.

“I will call Mr. Avulis and we will talk about it; I can help, since some of our soldiers search for jobs after service. We have good specialists; I believe that they would be satisfied with such a salary,” said Olekas in an interview with radio Ziniu Radijas on Aug. 8.

“Employers should pay reasonable salaries to Lithuanian residents and not chase them out of the country by paying the minimum wage. (..) I invite Lithuanian employers to take this road, yet they should show solidarity in doing this,” noted the minister.