According to the agreement, signed on Tuesday, the Defense Ministry will transfer money to the Labor Exchange for the purpose, employers of up to 150 young people who have completed the training are expected to apply for the grants this year. Under the preliminary plan, about 200,000 litas (EUR 58,000) should be earmarked for the purpose.
According to the ministry, the grant will cover 100 percent of the salary specified in the labor contract and the related social insurance tax, but no more than 1.5 minimum monthly salaries, which currently stands at 1,200 litas.
The grant will be paid for three months after employment or return to work. To receive the grant, employers will have to apply to territorial labor exchange.
Grants for labor and employment is seen as one of the instruments to encourage young people to attend basic military training.
"Twelve-week basic military training will add considerably more quality to the future employee, as army teaches endurance and responsibility, and the employer will receive a more motivated employee who better understands his or her duties," Juknevičienė, the defense minister, said in the press release.
Since the launch of the basic military training in October 2011, more than 450 soldiers have completed the training. According to the new language of the law, military service can be carried out in three ways, namely, three months of basic military training, nine months of permanent mandatory initial military training, and training of junior officers.
