Background information

On 7 December 2020, the Enforcement Officers Federation of Lithuania (LTPF) and police trade unions represented by it signed a sectoral collective agreement with the Police Department (PD). The collective agreement provides for more funds to be allocated to increase the work motivation of police officers and increased opportunities for the trade unions to get more actively involved in dealing with key employee-related issues in committees, commissions and working groups. In addition, taking into account the circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic and the increased workload, more attention is paid to the rest regime of police officers and conditions are created for general physical fitness exercises to be performed independently at a place and time convenient for police officers. This is aimed at improving the working conditions of police officers and increasing their social and economic guarantees in Lithuania both during and after the pandemic. The provisions of the collective agreement apply to all police officers and employees working under employment contracts.

Content of measure

The collective agreement provides for allocating payroll funds saved in institutions to motivate employees. Priority is given to remuneration for extra work. For example, employees replacing their colleagues for long periods when this is not provided in their employment contracts, and employees performing activities in excess of their normal workload, shall receive at least a 10% salary bonus. Similar bonuses or additional leave days shall be granted to staff appointed as supervisors.

The collective agreement also provides for the possibility to grant a study leave of 10 working days to police officers who are in formal education and have been in service at the same police institution for at least three years. They shall be paid their average wage for this period.

Taking into account the circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, conditions are created for police officers to perform general physical fitness exercises, at least two hours per month, at a place convenient for them and at a time of their choice. The exercise hours will be included in their working time.

The collective agreement also established police officers' entitlement to additional leave. For example, a trade union member with one child under 8 shall be given one extra day off in three months; likewise, a day off on the first day of an academic year shall be available to all police officers raising children under 14 in general education schools if the police officers are not entitled to additional rest days in accordance with Article 138 of the Labour Code.

The collective agreement further provides for a greater involvement of the trade union in decision-making. For example, depending on the number of trade union members, the heads of units and divisions will be allocated paid service working hours per year for this activity. In addition, trade union members will be able to use up to 3 working days a year for training and workshops while receiving their regular salary for those days.

The sectoral collective agreement will be in force until 7 December 2024 (subject to a possible extension of four additional years).

Use of measure

No information available.

Contents

• Basic working time
• Bonuses
• Health and safety
• Other topics
• Training and employability

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Particular professions	Does not apply to businesses	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government Social partners jointly	Employer

Social partners

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

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Agreed (outcome) incl. social partner initiative	Agreed (outcome) incl. social partner initiative
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

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

• Social partners jointly
• Main level of involvement: Peak or cross-sectoral level

Involvement

Social partners were actively involved in the preparation of the collective agreement.

Views and reactions

Trade union representatives were very positive about the collective bargaining outcomes. According to the chairlady of the LTPF, this agreement is one of the best of all collective agreements signed by law enforcement institutions. The chairlady of the Lithuanian Police Trade Union (LPPS) welcomed that the agreement contained a number of additional social guarantees for employees working in the police. However, she saw as the most significant result the agreement on a separate package of social services for trade union members onl

Sectors and occupations

Sources

• 07 December 2020: Collective agreement in the police sector (www.profsajungos.eu)
• 08 December 2020: Agreement for the police sector to be a real partnership, not a mere declaration (Policijos šakos sutartis – ne deklaruojama, o tikra partnerystė) (www.policijosps.lt)