On May 8, an international conference “Social Dialogue and Quality Work: European Trends and National Aspects” took place in Vilnius, bringing together discussions on the issues most important to workers both in Europe and in Lithuania. The conference was organized by the Lithuanian Trade Union Confederation (LPSK).
The event was opened by Acting President of LPSK Dalia Jakutavičė, while participants were welcomed by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Lithuania, Inga Ruginienė. In her opening remarks, the Prime Minister emphasized that it was symbolic, on the eve of Europe Day, to discuss what matters most to the people of Europe – workers’ rights, social security, and social dialogue.
The importance of quality jobs, strengthening social dialogue, and protecting workers in a rapidly changing labour market was discussed by Esther Lynch, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), and Tea Jarc, ETUC Confederal Secretary. The discussions highlighted that quality work means not only fair wages, but also safe working conditions, workers’ involvement in decision-making, collective bargaining, and the possibility to balance work and personal life.
Presenting ETUC’s position on the upcoming European Commission’s Quality Jobs Roadmap and the Quality Jobs Act Tea Jarc stressed that European trade unions are seeking clearer worker protection measures in the fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithmic management, stricter subcontracting rules, and greater attention to occupational safety and psychosocial health.
The conference also addressed concerns that technological development and the growing use of artificial intelligence in workplaces must not weaken workers’ rights.
ETUC representatives emphasized the need to ensure workers’ right to know how algorithmic systems operate, the right to challenge automated decisions, and the involvement of trade unions in decisions regarding the use of AI in the workplace. It was stressed that human beings must remain the primary decision-makers and that workers’ safety, privacy, and dignity cannot be sacrificed in the name of “reducing administrative burden.”
Considerable attention during the conference was also devoted to practical aspects of defending workers’ rights. LPSK lawyer Jonas Gricius presented the operating principles of labour dispute commissions, key aspects of legal regulation, and the most common issues faced by workers when defending their rights. He emphasized that labour dispute commissions remain an important and accessible pre-trial institution for employees, enabling faster and simpler resolution of workplace conflicts.
During the presentation, it was noted that the overwhelming majority – around 96 percent – of labour disputes in Lithuania are initiated by employees themselves. It was also observed that the number of claims raised in labour disputes continues to grow: in the first half of 2025, labour dispute commissions adopted more than 10,000 decisions. The total amount awarded to employees has also steadily increased – during the first half of this year alone, employees were awarded more than EUR 8.3 million.
The thematic discussion featured Ruta Juršaitė, Senior Adviser of the Labour Law Group at the Ministry of Social Security and Labour of the Republic of Lithuania; Andrius Romanovskis, President of the Lithuanian Business Confederation; Acting LPSK President Dalia Jakutavičė; LPSK Vice President Artūras Černiauskas; Irena Petraitienė, Chairwoman of the Lithuanian Trade Union of Public Service, Budgetary and Public Institution Employees; Magnus Gissler, President of the Baltic Sea Trade Union Network (BASTUN); Åsa Törnlund, International Secretary of the Swedish Trade Union Confederation LO; and Sebastian Koćwin, Vice President of OPZZ.
During the discussions, participants stressed that social dialogue remains one of the most important tools for reducing social exclusion, strengthening workers’ rights, and ensuring the creation of quality jobs both at national and European levels.
Significant attention was also devoted to the challenges facing social dialogue. Participants emphasized that one of the biggest issues in Lithuania remains the low level of trade union membership, as well as the lack of representativeness and bargaining mandates among employers’ organizations. These organizations are often not sufficiently representative to effectively negotiate and represent employers at national and sectoral levels. It was also highlighted that Lithuania still lacks sufficient incentives for employers to engage in collective bargaining and conclude collective agreements.
Conference participants discussed possible “hard” and “soft” incentive measures that could encourage social dialogue. Among the proposals mentioned was the idea of giving priority in public procurement and the allocation of public funding to companies where social dialogue is taking place, trade unions are active, and collective agreements are in force. According to the participants, such an approach would help strengthen responsible business practices and contribute to the creation of higher-quality jobs.
The conference was moderated by Marius Kalanta, Associate Professor at the Institute of International Relations and Political Science of Vilnius University.