Factsheet for measure
LT-2020-12/304
–
Updated
– measures in Lithuania
Compensation for doctors and other officials infected with COVID-19 during their duty
Kompensacijos medicinos ir kitiems darbuotojams, užsikrėtusiems COVID-19 virusu darbo metu
Background information
According to Law No. XIII-2824 of the Republic of Lithuania amending Article 11 to Law No. IX-110 on Sickness and Maternity Social Insurance (17/03/2020), a higher sickness benefit shall be paid to persons who during an emergency situation or quarantine declared by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, in performance of his or her professional functions involving unavoidable (necessary) contact with a person suffering from a serious infectious disease, contract a disease for which the Government of the Republic of Lithuania has declared emergency or quarantine. The aim is to increase, at least in part, additional social guarantees for healthcare workers and officials working in outbreaks of serious infectious diseases.
Content of measure
According to this measure doctors, officials, or other employees who have been infected with COVID-19 while on duty will be eligible for a higher rate of sickness benefit. The amount of the augmented sickness benefit will be 77.58% (instead of 62.06%) of the recipient’s average wage before tax (i.e. 100% of net wage). In case of illness at the workplace, the circumstances are determined in each case individually, after the employer submits to the territorial (local) unit of the Board of the State Social Insurance Fund the documents showing the causal relationship between the performance of professional activities and disease.
This measure will also apply to those who became infected before the amendment of the law came into force. In addition, also pharmacists, cashiers, social workers and the like will also be eligible for this benefit.
Updates
The following updates to this measure have been made after it came into effect.
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01 July 2021
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On 16 June 2021, Law No XIV-375 amending Articles 11-1, 14, 18, 21, 24, and adding Article 6-1 to Law No IX-110 on Sickness and Maternity Social Insurance of the Republic of Lithuania entered into force, providing, among other amendments, for amendments related to the payment of increased benefits for doctors and other officials infected with COVID-19 during their duty. The benefit shall be paid to the said employees, regardless of whether the person became infected with the coronavirus from a co-worker or another person while performing his/her work functions. Prior to these changes, increased sickness benefits were not available for employees becoming infected with the coronavirus from their co-workers.
Changes related to the payment of sickness benefits became effective in Lithuania on 1 July 2021.
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Use of measure
According to the estimates of the Ministry of Social Security and Labour (MSSL), about 14.4 thousand persons could be entitled to the benefit.
Target groups
Actors and funding
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Actors
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Funding
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National government
Social partners jointly
Social insurance
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National funds
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Social partners
Social partners' role in
designing the measure
and form of involvement:
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Trade unions
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Employers' organisations
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Role
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Consulted
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Consulted
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Form
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Direct consultation outside a formal body
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Direct consultation outside a formal body
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Social partners' role in the
implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:
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Unknown
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Main level of involvement: Sectoral or branch level
Involvement
Social partners consulted only ad hoc, the tripartite meeting was not held.
Views and reactions
It was already on 19 January 2021 when the Lithuanian Nurses ’Organisation (LNO) addressed the Ministry of Health (MH) requesting to draw attention to the fact that employees infected with COVID-19 in the workplace do not receive an increased sickness benefit. According to the LNO, employees becoming infected with COVID-19 from a co-worker are not entitled to increased sickness benefits, whereas cases of becoming infected from a patient are difficult to confirm as the circumstances of the infection are usually very difficult to prove.
The same position regarding increased sickness benefits was expressed by the Lithuanian Trade Union of Health Care Employees (LTUHCE) at the beginning of 2021. According to the LTUHCE chairlady, the deterioration of the epidemiological situation has led to an increase in the number of medical professionals failing to provide sufficient evidence to prove having been infected at work; thus, they are not eligible for higher sickness benefits.
Taking into account the positions expressed by the social partners, the procedure for granting the maximum sickness benefit was adjusted in Lithuania in June 2021.
Sectors and occupations
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This case is sector-specific
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Economic area
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Sector (NACE level 2)
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Q - Human Health And Social Work Activities
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Q86 Human health activities
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Q87 Residential care activities
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Q88 Social work activities without accommodation
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This case is occupation-specific
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Occupation (ISCO level 2)
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Health associate professionals
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Health professionals
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Sources
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18 March 2020: Law No XIII-2824 adding Article 11-1 to Law No IX-110 on Sickness and Maternity Social Insurance of the Republic of Lithuani
(www.e-tar.lt)
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26 January 2021: Medical workers complain of not receiving maximum sickness benefits after becoming infected with COVID-19 at work
(kauno.diena.lt)
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14 May 2021: People infected with COVID-19 at work to receive higher sickness benefits without any further conditions
(socmin.lrv.lt)
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08 June 2021: Law No XIV-375 amending Articles 11-1, 14, 18, 21, 24, and 33 and adding Article 6-1 to Law No IX-110 on Sickness and Maternity Social Insurance of the Republic of Lithuania
(e-seimas.lrs.lt)
