Law and Regulations, Legislation, Lithuania, Markets and Companies, Woodwork

The law amendments that were adopted by the Seimas provide for an obligation to preserve 42 state forest enterprises without their amalgamation. Such proposal was supported by 103 MPs, while 8 MPs were against with 4 abstentions.

The president had vetoed the amendments saying that they are against the Government's reform of forestry and transition to efficient and centralized management of forests.

Inga Rugiene, head of the Lithuanian Federation of Forest and Wood Workers Trade Unions, says that if state forest enterprises are amalgamated, the number of jobless foresters and wood workers could exceed a thousand.

Grybauskaite had vetoed the law amendments at the initiative of the prime minister.

"Forestry reform is the Government's responsibility. The president had vetoed the law at the request of Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevicius," the presidential press service said after the Seimas' voting.