Lithuania reports rising employment and debates digital labor rights

Lithuania's labor market saw a significant surge in activity in September, with the Employment Service reporting the highest increase in people returning to work in the last twelve months. Approximately 23,000 clients of the Employment Service began working in September, a 37.1% increase from August. The education sector saw the highest influx of new workers, followed by accommodation, food services, and healthcare.

Simultaneously, the Lithuanian Seimas has begun debating amendments to the Labor Code aimed at regulating digital platform workers, such as couriers and drivers. The proposed changes seek to address issues regarding algorithmic decision-making and automated monitoring. Under the new regulations, workers would have the right to request explanations for automated decisions and demand human review for critical actions, such as dismissals. The legislation also aims to clarify employment status to prevent the misclassification of employees as independent contractors.