News by topic
1. Labour Code amendments from 2026-11-01
Status: adopted Law No XV-1058 (2026-06-25); the State Labour Inspectorate (VDI) published a detailed explanation on 2026-09-28. The main provisions take effect on 2026-11-01.
What changes:
- Termination at the employer's discretion under Article 59 of the Labour Code will require a justified reason; the three working days' notice and severance of at least six average monthly wages remain unchanged;
- The one-month deadline for dismissal for a breach of employment duties will exclude periods of the employee's illness and leave;
- By agreement between the parties, the part of the final settlement exceeding one average monthly wage may be paid later, but no later than three months after the employment relationship ends;
- Employees whose contractual monthly pay is at least twice the latest national average gross monthly wage published by the State Data Agency will have broader scope to agree on departures from mandatory rules, provided the parties' interests remain balanced. Maximum working time, minimum rest periods, the conclusion of employment contracts, occupational health and safety and equality requirements cannot be waived. For this group of employees, the probationary period may be up to six months;
- Rules on remote work and requests concerning working time are clarified, and guarantees for works councils are expanded;
- Higher-level collective agreements may establish a two-year period for using annual leave and, in certain cases, compensation for part of unused leave.
Who is affected: employers and employees within the scope of the amended provisions. The previous rules apply subject to the transitional conditions in Article 39 of the amending law. Check when the relevant procedure began, when the probation period was established, or any other circumstance specified for the provision concerned.
Practical steps: update termination and final-settlement templates, internal procedures and remote-work rules; assess provisions on collective agreements and the financing of works councils.
Sources: VDI explanation; Law No XV-1058 in e-TAR.
2. Locations for submitting temporary residence permit applications from 2026-11-01
Status: the Migration Department's official announcement was published on 2026-09-24.
What changes: from 2026-11-01, applications for temporary residence permits in Lithuania can no longer be submitted through the external service provider's offices in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Belarusian citizens may submit employment-based applications in Armenia and Georgia.
Who is affected: foreign nationals and Lithuanian employers recruiting or planning to recruit them where the procedure involves the countries listed.
Practical steps: before booking an appointment, check which office will accept the relevant application category after 2026-11-01; coordinate recruitment plans with potential travel and appointment-booking times.
Source: Migration Department.
3. Sectoral collective agreement for social services
Status: a new sectoral collective agreement; the Ministry of Social Security and Labour (SADM) published its announcement on 2026-09-25. The agreement will take effect on 2027-01-01 and remain in force for four years.
What changes: the agreement provides additional paid leave based on service at a social services institution, a shorter paid working week and additional reductions in working time before public holidays for trade union members, and additional time off for parents. Pay increases for certain more highly qualified employees are linked to the relevant legal framework.
Who is affected: the agreement applies to the social services institutions and employees within its scope, rather than to all employers. SADM refers to approximately 6,600 trade union members in 105 institutions.
Practical steps: check whether the employer is covered and which employees are trade union members, calculate the impact on working time and leave, and prepare changes to HR and payroll systems.
Source: SADM.
4. Clarification of the methodology for imposing GDPR fines
Status: European Data Protection Board guidelines and public consultation. This is institutional guidance, rather than a new binding regulation. The State Data Protection Inspectorate (VDAI) published its announcement on 2026-09-24; comments may be submitted until 2026-11-13.
Key points: the guidance explains how supervisory authorities assess whether an infringement should attract a fine, the responsibility of the controller or processor, intent or negligence, aggravating and mitigating circumstances, and whether a fine is effective, proportionate and dissuasive. Minor infringements may generally result in a reprimand rather than a fine.
Practical steps: review GDPR incident-management arrangements, documented decisions and evidence of accountability; where relevant, consider submitting comments to the consultation.
Source: VDAI.
5. VMI annual personal income tax calculator for 2026
Status: an information tool from the State Tax Inspectorate (VMI), rather than a legislative amendment; published on 2026-09-29.
What is new: based on the 2026 income entered, the calculator provides an estimate of total personal income tax and the annual tax-exempt amount, with a breakdown of the applicable tax rates.
Practical steps: use the tool to check an individual's estimated annual tax position. It does not replace the employer's payroll accounting or an individual tax assessment.
Source: VMI.