Ministry of Health and trade unions sign updated collective agreement - medical salaries will increase
On Monday 16 October, the Minister of Health Arūnas Dulkys and nine trade union organizations representing medical professionals signed an agreement on the renewal of the collective agreement for the Lithuanian National Health System (LNSS) branch, which was concluded last year. The agreement will ensure a pay raise for health workers, with an average pay increase of at least 10% depending on the position held and improve other social conditions. The agreement also significantly expands the number of trade union members in budget health care institutions who are covered by the sectoral collective.
In signing the renewal of the contract, Minister of Health Arūnas Dulkys said that the commitments to the medical community have been consistently met for the past three years and are bearing fruit. "The increase in the remuneration of doctors is one of the fastest in the whole public sector, which helps to keep health workers in the public system, because there is a lot of competition for them. The agreement continues the commitment to address other sensitive issues such as workloads, psychological violence, health promotion and seniority", said Mr Dulkys.
The agreement was signed by representatives of the Lithuanian Doctors' Union, the Lithuanian Nursing Specialists' Organization, the Lithuanian Healthcare Workers' Trade Union, the Lithuanian Pharmaceutical Workers' Trade Union, the Lithuanian Ambulance Workers' Trade Union, the Medical Institutions Workers' Trade Union, the Trade Union Federation of Lithuanian Trade Unions, the Lithuanian Federation of Healthcare Trade Unions, the Lithuanian Medics' Forum trade union organization.
"We are delighted to have reached an agreement and today we are signing the Amendment and Supplement to the Agreement. Against the backdrop of our health system reform, with global challenges changing daily and increasing pressure on health professionals, we do not feel safe and secure. We are already thinking about the future, about what kind of LNSS Branch Collective Agreement we would like to sign so that we can continue to work with dignity," says Regina Jarošienė, President of the Trade Union of Medical Institution Employees "Solidarumas".
According to the renewed agreement, in 2024, the base rate for calculating the remuneration of medical staff in public medical institutions will be higher - it will be equal to the minimum monthly salary set by the Government for the previous year (2023).
The average salary for a doctor in 2024 is projected to be €4 717 before tax, equivalent to 2.2 times the national average salary. This is €429 more than in the first half of 2023. For nurses, the average salary in 2024 is expected to be €2,222 before tax, equivalent to 1.04 national average salaries. This is €202 more than in the first half of 2023.
The agreement also entitles trade union members working in public personal health care institutions to one working day once during the current year to receive a pre-scheduled visit to a health care professional or to otherwise improve their health, at an average wage. This day shall not be considered as an additional day of annual leave.
It should be recalled that the collective agreement of the LNSS branch was signed on 15 November 2021 by the Minister of Health A. The LNSS Agreement was signed on 15 November 2016 by Mr. Dulkys and nine trade union organizations representing medical professionals: the Lithuanian Doctors' Union, the Lithuanian Nursing Specialists' Organization, the Lithuanian Healthcare Workers' Trade Union, the Lithuanian Pharmaceutical Workers' Trade Union, the Lithuanian Ambulance Workers' Trade Union "Solidarumas", the Trade Union of Medical Institutions Workers "Solidarumas", the Federation of Trade Unions of Lithuania, the Lithuanian Federation of Trade Unions of Healthcare, the Federation of Lithuanian Healthcare Trade Unions, and the trade union organization "Lithuanian Medics Forum".
It should be noted that as of 1 January 2024, trade union members of budgetary health care institutions will be subject to the coefficients of the fixed part of the salary in force in 2023, which will be recalculated in accordance with the procedure laid down in the Law on Remuneration of Employees of the State and Municipal Bodies and on the Compensation of Members of the Commissions in the event of a change in the law on remuneration of State and Municipal Institutions' employees and on the compensation of commission members in the event of changes to the Law on remuneration of employees in the State and Municipal Institutions' employees in the event of changes in the procedure laid down in the Law, thus ensuring that employees' remuneration will remain in force in the period 2023. It was also agreed on the calculation of the total number of years of service in the provision of public health services in schools. Seniority is to be understood as continuous (not in terms of employment with the same employer, but in terms of the functions performed) and not less than 20 years.
The agreement will ensure social guarantees for all trade union members, stable wage increases and additional guarantees beyond those provided for in the current Labour Code.
Last updated: 04-01-2024
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