Third of Lithuanian workers would swap guarantees for higher pay

The choices of employees points to a major problem working people are faced with – their salaries do not cover their primary needs, says Artūras Černiauskas, the chairman of the Lithuanian Confederation of Trade Unions. In his words, people would otherwise speak of other important aspects of work, for instance, work conditions.

“This demonstrates very clearly the situation employees in Lithuania are in. Back in 2007, when salaries were comparatively high, employees were interested in more things than just the wages, they wanted to know about the people they will work with, about safety at work, the psychological climate and the possibility to make a career,” Černiauskas told DELFI.

In the second quarter of 2015, average monthly salary after taxes was 553.8 euros. According to data provided by the state-run social insurer Sodra, about 400,000 employees of the country’s total 1.3 million workers make a minimum salary.