Beginning in April, every construction worker must have a valid transparent worker ID code. It has already been tested by businesses that were given additional time to adapt without being penalised for violations.

The code can be obtained by anyonewho logs in to a personal Sodra account or by visiting any Sodra reception. An employer can also get it for their employees. The code can be downloaded and stored on a mobile device or printed on paper, similar to the previously used National Certificate (galimybių pasas in Lithuanian).

For the time being, there will be a two-month transition period during which employees and employers will not be penalised if they do not have an ID code, and the requirements will not be enforced for technical reasons.

The State Labour Inspectorate informed Verslo Žinios that checking the ID code will be included in the plan of joint inspections, but separate unannounced verifications of construction sites have not yet been planned.

Later, according to the information of the Ministry of Social Security and Labour, all workers, without exception, who do not provide a code, will receive a fine from EUR 50 to EUR 150. In cases of repeated violations, this will increase – from EUR 150 to EUR 250. If employers or clients fail to ensure that workers have the necessary codes, they will be fined from EUR 500 to EUR 1,100. For repeated violations, the fine will be from EUR 1,100 to EUR 2,550.

Remigijius Matonis, Head of Security and Prevention at Conresta, was interviewed by Verslo Žinios about the implementation of the builder IDs at the company.

Additional means to be implemented

Remigijus Matonis, Head of Security and Prevention at the construction company Conresta UAB, says that there were no incidents during the first days when the new order came into effect.

‘At this stage, we have not experienced any issues or complications. The system is rather clear when it comes to employees, especially at our company. All the codes have been sent, and the employees have them,’ says R. Matonis to Verslo Žinios.

He added that the company uses modern control systems that allow the identification of those entering the construction site, which should also be useful when checking ID codes.

‘Uncertainty always remains when there are new solutions, but, in this case, it is minimal. At our company, we installed control systems related to access to construction sites quite some time ago, and we also use biometric data. Employees of subcontractors also come to us through the control system,’ says R. Matonis.

According to Matonis, the inspection of subcontractor workers, which has previously raised questions for the builders, should be resolved quite soon.

‘We are considering the possibilities of implementing additional technical measures in our already existing system; solutions do exist. We are just considering the possibilities and the start time when we can implement them. The process is quite simple and fast enough,’ he adds.

‘Cooperation on this matter is also expected from the subcontractors themselves,’ says the Head of Security and Prevention of the company.

‘We keep in touch with our partners, so they are informed. We have not yet received any additional questions from them. Since the law obliges all employers to take care of ID codes, we believe that our partners are responsible for it and that everyone will get this sorted out during the transition period. So far, nobody has said that something is not clear,’ says R. Matonis.

As explained by Matonis, a two-month transition period will also be sufficient for the company, noting that a similar principle of using the code was with the National Certificate (galimybių pasas in Lithuanian).

‘Since the whole algorithm is clear enough, there are no great difficulties in downloading the ID and the majority of our population has used the National Certificate, there is no trouble whatsoever. The two-month period, I think, is more than sufficient,’ notes the company’s representative.

However, the construction sector will still wait for the first precedent when violations will be assessed.

‘Of course, we will not wait to receive fines ourselves. We will apply some control measures and we will assess ourselves to see whether we are properly prepared,’ says R. Matonis.