Lithuania: Parental rights and Labor Code changes for September 1

Working parents in Lithuania face specific legal considerations regarding the start of the school year on September 1. Due to upcoming changes in the Labor Code, employees should verify their legal guarantees and inform employers of their plans in advance.

Currently, employees raising a child under 14 years old who is enrolled in pre-school, primary, or basic education are entitled to at least half a working day off on the first day of the school year, provided they do not already have a designated ‘mother’s day’ or ‘father’s day’.

Other entitlements include one additional day of rest every three months for parents of one child under 12, or once a month for parents of two children under 12 or a child with a disability up to 18. For those with three or more children under 12, or two children under 12 where at least one has a disability, two additional days of rest are provided per month. Eglė Tamavičiūtė, a senior lawyer at COBALT, notes that if a parent has already used their designated parental day, they must negotiate unpaid leave or annual leave with their employer.