As the LVŽS faction of the Seimas states in the report, the current procedure is flawed – the duration of annual vacations in Lithuania is the shortest that can be according to the requirements of the European Union (EU). In other western countries, such as Austria, Denmark, France, Finland, Sweden, annual leave is between 25 and 35 working days.
“It is expected that longer vacations will protect workers from overwork, which often occurs in the country, and improve health and quality of life,” says Aušrinė Norkienė, an elder of the LVŽS faction in the Seimas.
According to A. Norkienė, while performing the duties arising from the employment contract and performing work activities, the person gradually gets tired and his physical and mental condition becomes worse. Over time, the continuous work of an employee poses an increasing threat to the safety and health of the employee.
“Another problem is that in modern society, many people are so immersed in work that they no longer know how to relax and rest. Therefore, even during the first weeks of vacation, one’s mind does not break away from daily work. The real rest starts only later”, says Guoda Burokienė, Deputy Elder of the LVŽS faction in the Seimas.
With the new amendment to the Labor Code, it is proposed to establish an annual vacation of at least 22 working days or at least 26 working days for employees. If the number of working days per week is less or different, the employee must be granted a vacation of at least four weeks.
Employees under the age of eighteen, employees raising a single child under the age of fourteen or a disabled child under the age of eighteen, and disabled employees are granted 27 working days of annual leave or 32 working days of annual leave. If the number of working days per week is less or different, employees should be given five weeks’ holiday.
Currently, employees are granted annual leave of at least 20 days (if working five working days per week) or at least 24 working days (if working six working days per week).
Employees under the age of eighteen, employees raising a single child under the age of fourteen or a disabled child under the age of eighteen, and disabled employees are granted 25 working days of annual leave or 30 working days of annual leave.
