Further expansion of national Tripartite Council

The social partners at the Tripartite Council of the Republic of Lithuania (LRTT) have decided to set up several new committees in order to extend the scope of the council’s activities. In May 2010, the LRTT approved the establishment of five new committees. The LRTT has approved basic regulations of the committees, establishing their functions and rights, as well as their formation, work organisation and dissolution procedures.

The Tripartite Council of the Republic of Lithuania (Lietuvos Respublikos Trišalė taryba, LRTT) – the main national-level tripartite social dialogue institution in the country – has been constantly expanding during recent years. As far back as 2006, the social partners considered extending the scope of activities of the LRTT by including more representatives of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) (LT0607039I). This idea was partially implemented in 2009 when, by decision of the social partners, the number of LRTT members was increased from 15 to 21 persons by including new representatives of employer and employee organisations and of the ministries (LT0909019I). In 2008, in order to strengthen the role of the LRTT in making important social and economic policy decisions in the country, the social partners initiated discussions to address these issues at the Parliament (Lietuvos Respublikos Seimas, LRS) and Government of the Republic of Lithuania (Lietuvos Respublikos Vyriausybė, LRV) (LT0809029I).

Recent LRTT initiatives

The intentions to extend the scope of activities of the LRTT remain relevant in 2010. At the beginning of the year, social partner organisations started considering the opportunity to set up an Employment and Business Promotion Committee or form a working group for Employment and Business Promotion at the LRTT. The idea of establishing the new committee was developed, taking into account proposals of other social partners and NGOs. In February and March, the LRTT decided to set up a number of specialised committees at the LRTT. The council approved basic regulations of the committees, establishing their functions and rights, as well as their formation, work organisation and dissolution procedures.

Establishment of five new committees approved

The key functions of the committees operating at the LRTT include preliminary consideration of challenging social and economic issues, preparation of required materials and opinions, and submitting items for final consideration at the LRTT.

Long discussions ended in May with the LRTT’s approval of the establishment of the following committees, namely the:

• Committee for Regional Development and Labour Market Employment;

• Consumer Rights Protection Committee;

• Youth Committee;

• Committee for the Cooperation of the LRTT and the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC);

• Committee for Science and its Effects on Economic and Social Development.

In addition, the LRTT approved the draft regulations of the Committee for Regional Development and Labour Market Employment, the chairperson and list of members of the committee. Regulations and the staff composition of other committees are to be approved at the next sittings of the LRTT when all necessary material and drafts will be ready.

Inga Blažienė, Institute of Labour and Social Research