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Description
In recent years, social dialogue in Lithuania has been significantly developing: national and branch collective agreements were signed, discussions between employers and employees are taking place, employees negotiate for better working conditions, defending their rights, collective bargaining is getting more active, etc. Other countries‘ experience shows that it is particularly important to develop social dialogue at the local level, especially by encouraging municipal administrations involvement in collective negotiations or by signing sectoral and territorial collective agreements. Lithuanian municipalities are showing growing interest in developing the social dialogue. The project „Social dialogue and collective agreements“ has been an important contributor in this process. Project aimed to improve social dialogue and cooperation through strengthening social dialogue bipartite cooperation at local level in the sector of social services, also to identify process of municipal administrations’ participation in social dialogue, to develop higher trust, better understanding and improve social dialogue skills as well as capacities using the Norwegian long-term experience.
Project was implemented by Association of Local Authorities in Lithuania (ALAL), Lithuanian Trade Union of State, Budget and Public Service Employees (LTUSE) and Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities (KS).
Project objectives:
- To strengthen social dialogue and cooperation between different parties.
- To encourage municipal administrations’ involvement in the social dialogue of the social services sector.
- To provide knowledge and practical skills in the field of social dialogue and collective negotiations.
Summary of project results
Based on Norwegian and local experience around 200 municipal administrations, trade unions and social service institutions representatives have been provided with the necessary knowledge and practical skills in the development of social dialogue and collective agreements practical implementation. As a project result methodological guidelines on the social dialogue development at local level and draft territorial agreement have been prepared and presented during trainings and seminars.
Two year project contributed to the development of social dialogue and cooperation between employers and employees and to the encouragement of municipal administrations’ involvement in the social dialogue in social services sector. Also project activities strengthened the bilateral cooperation between Lithuania and Norway and opened ways for future cooperation.
Summary of bilateral results
Norwegian experience has raised awareness and understanding of social dialogue, project participants got acquainted with the Norwegian system and good practice, how different social dialogue parties work together in collective bargaining as well was presented the role of municipalities in social dialogue.