Today at the press conference three NGOs and two Labor Unions expressed their readiness to assist Mrs. Dalia Budreviciene, recently fired by one of the major meat producers for "tarnishing the name of the company" just after the woman publicly critisized the "envelope practice" - widely spread phenomenon when part of the salary is being paid unofficially without paying taxes and depriving an employee of a certain part of social security benefits.
Leaders of the Human Rights Monitoring Institute, the Civil Society Institute, the Transparency International - Lithuanian branch, and labor unions of Lithuanian meat producers and Pretrial Investigation Institutions, as well as the former employee of "Krekenavos agrofirma" Dalia Budreviciene spoke at the press conference held at the Open Lithuania Foundation (Didzioji 5).
Board Chair of HRMI Kestutis Cilinskas stated that officially indicated reasons for firing Mrs Budreviciene are absolutely unprecedented. "Lithuanian laws do not allow to fire a person on such grounds," he said. It is likely that leaders of "Krekenavos agrofirma" are trying to intimidate other employees and thus prevent further discussions about the payments in the envelopes.
Executive Director of HRMI Henrikas Mickevicius assured that the rights of Dalia Budreviciene will be defended whatever it takes - even at the European Court for Human Rights. "This is a long standing systematic problem that needs ultimate measures for reaching the necessary solution,” stated Henrikas Mickevicius.
Chair of the labor union of meat producers Grazina Gruzdiene also offered legal aid to Dalia Budreviciene. According to Mrs Gruzdiene, paying part of the salary through the “envelope practice” is nothing but a humiliation of employees.
Chair of the labor union of Pretrial Investigation Institutions Tomas Vaitkunskas called for the general boycott of products by the "Krekenavos agrofirma".
Executive Director of Transparency International Rytis Juozapavicius noted that the case of Dalia Budreviciene is a clear indication that whistle-blowers are not protected in Lithuania.
Director of the Civil Society Institute Darius Kuolys announced the establishment of the support fund for Dalia Budreviciene and possible other victims of employers sordid interests and urged society to engage in this civic action.
Dalia Budreviciene declared that she is determined to fight for her rights to the end.
See more (in Lithuanian) on news portals Delfi and Bernardinai.
© 2012 Human Rights Monitoring Institute