Bitinas, Audrius

This book analyses the current legal situation and protection of vulnerable groups in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland. In recent decades, national legislation in many European states has especially focused on vulnerable groups with the aim of securing their enhanced protection and social inclusion. This trend is also noticeable in North-Eastern Europe, where the legal frameworks are constantly being revised to address the needs of vulnerable parts of society, including women, children, the elderly, people with disabilities, and minorities, as well as prisoners and victims of crime. But despite these positive changes, many challenges persist. In this book, the authors provide a comprehensive, comparative analysis of legal regulations and practices intended to protect vulnerable groups in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland, and in the process, share insights into the current situation and trends in this often-overlooked region. Part I introduces readers to the topic by defining the concept of vulnerable groups and elaborating on its understanding in the European and national contexts. Part II analyses the legal protection of groups characterised by inherent and/or circumstantial vulnerability, while Part III addresses specific crime-related vulnerability issues in the target region. In closing, Part IV puts the spotlight on three specific vulnerable groups in the discussed countries.

The general social insurance system applies to employed persons and includes five branches, which become autonomous since 1967: health insurance (including maternity, disability and death risk), accidents at work and occupational diseases insurance, old-age insurance, family insurance, and the collection of social security contributions. Special social insurance systems are applied to the professional groups or to the company’s professional funds. The analyse of autonomous advocate’s social insurance system is presented in this article, because the principle of independence of advocacy institute is introduced in French legislation. In France we could identify the classical approach, that an advocate is independent profession, having a legal procedural independence and advocacy institute is autonomous. As conclusion we could note, that financial problems can not be solved only by reducing the coverage of social security and it must be accompanied by institutional reforms, providing employment and higher labour market activation measures, as well to increase the competitiveness of companies and the financial sustainability of the state budget.

The aim of this article is to describe the Lithuanian pension system, its reform process and its long-term financial sustainability. We define therefore the current reforms in the public pension system, influenced by the last economic crisis and social challenges. Also, we forecast the financial dynamics of the public pension system, in the light of raising social expenses (due to second pillar pension reforms) and of demographic trends (like ageing society and low fertility). Results reveal the long-term sustainability of the system, albeit at a cost of initial negative balances to be covered with public budget. Policy solutions could improve sustainability by encouraging and extending employment (especially for the disadvantaged) and by building trust in both public and private pension systems.

In France we could identify the classical approach that an advocate is an independent profession, having a legal procedural independence and autonomy of the advocacy institute. In conclusion, it could be pointed out that financial problems can not be solved only by reducing the coverage of social security but must be accompanied by institutional reforms providing employment and higher labour market activation measures as well as by increasing the competitiveness of companies and the financial sustainability of the state budget.

The aim of this article is to define the Lithuanian public pension system reforms, influenced by the last economic crisis and social challenges (ageing processes, raising social expenses). The paper also investigates the influence that current demographic trends will exert on the financial dynamics of the pension system. Results reveal the long-term sustainability of the system, albeit at a cost of initial negative balances to be covered with public budget. Also, the system may expose pensioners to the risks of poverty and social exclusion because of low payments. It is then necessary to intensify the pension system’s reform. Policy solutions should encourage and extend employment (especially for the disadvantaged) and rebuilt trust in both public and private pension systems.

Šiame straipsnyje aptariama socialinio draudimo sistema ir jos raida bei reformų tendencijos Prancūzijoje, analizuojant, kokios prielaidos lėmė sistemos kompleksiškumą ir specialiosios sistemos – laisvųjų profesijų socialinio draudimo atsiskyrimą nuo bendrosios socialinio draudimo sistemos. Analizuojama, kokias įmokas moka asmenys, pasirinkę bendrąjį ir laisvųjų profesijų socialinį draudimą, kokios specifinės išmokų rūšys bei ypatumai skirtingose sistemose, pateikiamos išvados.

Vadovėlis „Flexicurity“ teisinis reguliavimas skirtas socialinių mokslų studentams, studijuojantiems tiek teisės, tiek ir vadybos bei administravimo studijų kryptyse, viešojo ir privataus sektorių vadovams bei darbuotojams, socialiniams partneriams, taip pat visiems, besidomintiems socialinės apsaugos ir darbo teise. Vadovėlyje pateikta saugumo ir lankstumo derinimo darbo rinkoje (angl. flexicurity) genezė, paskirtis ir funkcijos, saugumo ir lankstumo teisinio reguliavimo problematika leis pagilinti supratimą apie flexicurity teisinį reguliavimą, socialinės apsaugos modernizavimo bei valdymo problematiką ir Europos Sąjungos iniciatyvas šioje srityje, padės efektyviau planuoti socialinės apsaugos ir darbo teisės sistemos reformas. Vadovėlyje nemažai dėmesio skiriama naujiems teisiniams pokyčiams socialinės apsaugos ir darbo teisės srityje, Europos Sąjungos užimtumo politikai bei plėtros tendencijoms, socialinio draudimo bei darbo teisės reguliavimo integracijai.

Šio straipsnio tikslas — išanalizuoti Japonijos ir Pietų Korėjos pensijų sistemų struktūras bei pensijų sistemos reformas, kurias veikia ekonominiai ir socialiniai iššūkiai. Šiame straipsnyje analizuojama Japonijos ir Pietų Korėjos pensijų sistemos plėtra, identifikuojama teisinė, ekonominė, socialinė reformų aplinka, nustatomos problemos ir tendencijos. Nagrinėjamose valstybėse nuo praėjusio amžiaus pabaigos pablogėjo ekonominė situacija, o visuomenės senėjimo procesai (mažas gimstamumas, viena ilgiausių pasaulyje gyvenimo trukmė) veikia ir pačią visuomenę, reikalauja vis sudėtingesnių ir greitesnių reformų. Straipsnyje taikyti mokslinės literatūros analizės, teisės aktų analizės, dokumentų analizės ir istorinis metodai. Straipsnyje pateikiama medžiaga gali būti naudojama kaip metodinė literatūra, padedanti įvertinti vykstančius procesus Japonijos bei Pietų Korėjos pensijų sistemose.