Public service union leader awaits clear pension increase proposals from social ministry

The head of Lithuania’s law enforcement officers’ federation has called on the Ministry of Social Security and Labour to present concrete proposals for raising public servants’ pensions, following a meeting with ministry representatives on Wednesday.

Loreta Soščekienė, chair of the Lithuanian Law Enforcement Officers’ Federation (LTPF), told BNS the discussion focused on assessing expectations, demands, and unacceptable terms in potential pension legislation. “There are many questions. We are waiting for the ministry’s interested proposals, then we will sit down together and discuss the best options for officers,” she said.

Soščekienė stressed that current pension adjustments for retired officers are minimal, with increases often amounting to just a few euros. She noted that the meeting also addressed the inclusion of overtime and night work in pension calculations, though no decisions have yet been made.

While acknowledging political will to reform pensions, she cautioned that compromises may require trade-offs. “Pensions certainly need reform, but it will likely come in small steps. Officers may need to accept higher contributions in exchange for better benefits,” she added.

Earlier this year, the lowest-paid public servants received wage increases of 1–2%, and all officer groups saw higher pay coefficients. A monthly €300 long-service bonus was also introduced for those with 25 or more years of service. The 2026 state budget allocates €1.07 billion to the internal affairs system, with a current pension indexation coefficient of 1.009.