Background information

On 12 June 2020, the Law on Lump-Sum Payments to Children to Mitigate the Effects of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus Infection) Pandemic (No XIII-3030) came into force, providing for lump-sum payments to families with children or foster children and to abandoned children. The Law aims at reducing the negative economic and social effects of the state of emergency and quarantine and boosting the economy.

Content of measure

The Law stipulates that lump-sum payments will be available to all children who receive child benefit in Lithuania (i.e. a universal child benefit payable in respect of all children under 18).

The lump-sum benefit will be €120 or €200, depending on the amount of child benefit the family receives:

• for families receiving €60 (normal amount), the lump-sum payment will be €120 and
• for those receiving child benefit in the amount of €100 (payable for disabled children, low-income families and large families), the lump-sum payment will be €200.

Normally, the lump sum will be paid by 31 July 2020, but for children who become entitled to the child benefit after 1 July 2020, the lump sum will be paid together with the child’s first instalment.

The lump-sum payments will be also available for children who will become entitled to the child money by 31 December 2020. In Lithuania, the child benefit is paid by city and regional municipalities.

Use of measure

According to estimates of the Ministry of Social Security and Labour (MSSL), extra benefits will be paid to more than 0.5 million children: the €120 benefit will be paid to more than 374,000 children and the €200 benefit will be paid to approx. 134,000 children. The measure will cost the budget some €72 million.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Does not apply to businesses	Children (minors) People on social benefits

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government Social partners jointly Local / regional government	Local funds National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Consulted	Consulted
Form	Direct consultation outside a formal body	Direct consultation outside a formal body

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: Peak or cross-sectoral level

Involvement

Social partners (SPs) consulted only ad hoc, the tripartite meeting was not held. On 24 April 2020, the Advisory Group for Post-Quarantine Social Issues under the MSSL started its work in Lithuania, discussing measures to reduce social effects during the post-quarantine period in Lithuania. SPs were also invited to participate in the group.

Views and reactions

SPs welcomed the measure. According to the Lithuanian Trade Union Confederation (LTUC), not only business needs support, but also people who have lost their jobs due to quarantine, people with disabilities, seniors, families with children. However, the chair of the LTUC emphasised that more help is needed for working people as well. Although the Government of the Republic of Lithuania takes into account the requirements of trade unions, it would be appropriate to further strengthen the package of measures for those in employment.

Sources

• 09 April 2020: LTUC supports the position and proposals of NGOs and scientists.(LPSK palaiko NVO ir mokslininkų poziciją ir pasiūlymus) (www.lpsk.lt)
• 30 April 2020: Why should we give more money to rich pensioners than to workers? (Kodėl turtingiems pensininkams turime duoti daugiau pinigų nei darbuotojams) (www.tv3.lt)
• 09 June 2020: Law on Lump-Sum Payments to Children to Mitigate the Effects of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus Infection) Pandemic (LR vienkartinės išmokos vaikams, skirtos COVID-19 (koronaviruso infekcijos) pandemijos padariniams mažinti, įstatymas) (e-seimas.lrs.lt)