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Guy Ryder and Dalia Grybauskaite. Vilnius, 17.09.2014. Photo: lrp.lt

"Consistent policy is yielding results: the decline in youth unemployment rates in Lithuania is one of the fastest in the EU. However, it is necessary to take further measures, especially in education system, in order young people could acquire really marketable job skills and ensure their future in Lithuania," the president said.

In July, amendments to the laws on state social insurance and health insurance were adopted at the initiative of the president. These amendments help young people find more easily a place for vocational practice, acquire useful skills and get a job. Lithuania has also secured a targeted EU support for implementing youth employment, requalification and training programmes. Youth unemployment has declined by almost half since 2010 and is now below the EU average. However, nearly one fifth (19.5%) of young people in Lithuania are unemployed, writes LETA/ELTA.

During the meeting, the president voiced her support to developing the EU platform which will help member states cooperate in curbing the spread of illegal work.

According to the president, illegal work not only strengthens shadow economy, but also violates employee rights. The experience accumulated by the International Labour Organisation in promoting the protection of employee rights, employment opportunities and social security is important for dealing with this problem on a pan-European scale.

The meeting between Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevicius and Director General of International Labour Organisation Guy Ryder also focused on illegal work in the international context and youth employment issues.

Participants of the meeting noted that the best practice of some European countries in combating illegal work shows that the reduction of the demand for illegal work is needed and not only the increase of preventative or penal measures.

According to the prime minister, in order to solve the problem Lithuania is creating a social model encompassing improvement of employment opportunities and labour relations and enhancing sustainability of social insurance. The prime minister said that it is an innovative way promoting transfer from illegal to legal work, underscoring that adequate pay and social insurance benefits in the labour market outrival illegal work.

Talking about youth employment Butkevicius noted the Youth Guarantee Initiative which is aimed at ensuring that within 4 months after becoming unemployed or finishing education people younger than 29 would get a job offer, an offer to study, or receive traineeship or placement opportunities.

The prime minister stressed that suitable selection of partners is crucial when implementing the programme. "Seeking to implement the Youth Guarantee Initiative as effectively as possible, a network of partners has been created including business, employer and employee as well as youth organisations and ministries. The network is solving youth unemployment issues, assessing and providing proposals over implementation of measures," the press release issued by the prime minister read.