The builders have started an experiment: observe how many unemployed will be attracted by the 1,500 euros of salary

Fall Specialists Eagerly Wanted

Dalius Gedvilas, president of the Lithuanian Builders Association (LSA), points out that the construction sector, like other sectors, feels a shortage of skilled labor. However, these problems are more pronounced in the fall.

“The members of the association, who work legally, pay taxes, monitor that there are a number of registered builders who do not have work in the Employment Service during the high season. We see more than 4 thousand. finalists at a time when construction is in short supply. The builders declare that there are 23 thousand. job vacancies. We don’t really understand that.

September and October are very stressful for Lithuanian builders, as they generally try to finish the constructions with wet processes before the winter season in order to be able to close them when it is cold. The main peak of the labor shortage is that now, builders are feverishly looking for specialists, but generally at the beginning of the year, the need decreases, some of the work is postponed to warmer weather, ”he says.

The experiment started

For these reasons, the association recently launched an experiment.

“We asked the Employment Service and we invited ourselves to carry out a kind of pilot test, to find out if the people who claim to be construction companies are really like that. The service is now conducting a specialized competency assessment.

A large proportion of those who attended the assessment have construction competencies, but some people did not pass the test. It consisted of an oral and practical evaluation. Practical: At the construction site, show if they know how to build masonry, if they claim to be bricklayers, or if they know how to glue tiles.

We have referred everyone who passed the test to specific employers, they agree to accept them, now we are waiting for the result. We will discuss with the Employment Service if these people will get a job or if they do not yet have the desire and incentive to go to work ”, says D. Gedvilas.

So far 27 people have passed this test and several hundred specialists are planned to be tested before the end of the year. According to the interlocutor, about 15 percent. people do not meet the requirements and fail the test.

The problem is compounded by benefits and shadows

The president of the LSA believes that the OCTs should review their evaluation methodology, since some of those registered as unemployed are working in the shadows.

“There are those who have declared that they have worked abroad and are good specialists, but it turns out that they also receive benefits abroad if they have left the labor market or similar. There are those who immediately give hints that they do not know if they really want to go to work. Apparently, the entire procedure of the Employment Service should be reviewed, a more precise identification methodology should be established, which individuals really do not have competence and cannot work. In addition, those who imitate that they have left the labor market and do not have a job, actually work illegally, receive income and at the same time receive compensation, benefits as unemployed people ”, says D. Gedvilas.

He is convinced that the problem of staff shortages is exacerbated both by paid benefits and by shadow.

“We must share state resources more responsibly, we must not educate the statistically unemployed who are obsolete: they sit in the service, they may not receive benefits, but they receive compensation, other social guarantees, and in fact they receive income illegally and at the same time they compete. ” with employees legally. We believe that it is necessary to manage this process, not pay unnecessarily, not give them any social guarantee ”, emphasizes the head of the LSA.

Offers an average of 1,500 euros in hand

The registered unemployed are also not attracted to salaries seeking “hands” of 1,500 euros, since specialists with skills earn on average.

“The construction industry has a proven and validated standard of professional qualification competence, it divides the professions into five levels. During the evaluations, we determine which level the specialist belongs to. If he is a bricklayer, if he is of the highest level – fifth – level, if he is fourth, third, etc. After assessing your level, a competition card is issued. If the employer sees that he intends to hire a concrete level 3-4 and auctioneer from the Employment Service, undoubtedly, employers also offer a higher salary ”, he assures.

However, in the black job market, the pay is even higher, so some people don’t see the point of working legally.

“Builders who work illegally do a lot of work in the market. Companies could do that. Not all of us can compete equally, leaving a niche where part of the work is done illegally, construction companies compete for objects that are legally built. There could be more legal orders in the market if not that shadow of the labor market.

If there is a public procurement, there are companies that do not work at all legally, competing for price, the builders do not understand how it is possible to build one or another object at such a low price. This really distorts the statistics, ”says D. Gedvilas.