Lithuanian gov't promises 2 mln euros for teachers wage increase

Lithuanian government has planned to find 2 million euros for school workers wages increase instead of initially mentioned 5 million euros, Algirdas Butkevicius, the country's prime minister, said on Wednesday.

He also noted that additional finances could be allocated from the EU funds.

"It was recommended for the Ministry of Education to review the funding allocated for so called soft projects financed from the EU budget; around 2 million euros from this programme could be redirected for teachers' wages increase as of September 1 this year," Butkevicius was quoted as saying by local media.

"These are the last reserves or the last opportunities to solve the problem," he added.

The head of the cabinet was speaking after governmental meeting on Wednesday.

Audrone Pitrieniene, minister of education, echoed prime minister's stance in the interview with local radio broadcaster LRT Radijas.

"The prime minister has said that the government will find 2 million euro," she said.

In her words, the government "does not have more money".

Professional unions claim they will consider the newest governmental proposal and will decide on Thursday whether to end the strike.

Around one tenth of Lithuanian schools took part in an open-ended protest strike which lasted more than one week and is still ongoing.

On Wednesday, around 2,400 teachers continued their strikes in 113 schools and pre-school education institutions.

According to statistical data from the Ministry of Education, teachers' average monthly pre-tax salary in Lithuania amounts to 823.4 euros. Endit