Finding a job when starting a new life is one of the biggest challenges for convicts who have returned to freedom. Distrust, loss of professional and communication skills, critical public attitudes are just some of the fears faced by both convicts themselves and companies trying to help them integrate.

However, it is not only the shadow of the past that hinders to assert oneself in the labour market – often even if convicts have the opportunity to work, they refuse it, or the rotation of such employees becomes a significant headache for the employers who have employed them.

Assessed by work, not status

Since October last year, the hazardous and non-hazardous waste management facility Žalvaris has employed 21 convicts serving sentences in a prison, giving them the opportunity to work as an unskilled worker at the waste disposal centre in Kaunas. Today, however, there are 6 unskilled workers, of whom only one is currently serving a sentence in a prison since the start of the program.

"So far, we are still trying such an employment model, and whether it will become a long-term practice of the company, it is difficult to answer unambiguously for the simple reason – volatility. The employment of persons serving a sentence is characterised by the fact that convicts tend to commit an offence, violate the rules of the prison, as a result of which such a person is prohibited to work for some time. If a person is released on parole, his or her place of residence does not necessarily coincide with his or her place of employment, which also makes it more difficult for him or her successfully to return to social life and integrate in the labour market," – Vitoldas Sapožnikovas, the Director of Žalvaris, the largest hazardous and non-hazardous waste management facility in Lithuania, says.

According to the interlocutor, there is no significant difference in terms of quality and motivation between people employed on the basis of job advertisements or from prisons, the attitude to the tasks entrusted to them depends first and foremost on the person himself or herself, and here, as anywhere else, some work honestly and strive for the highest results, others lack motivation.

"The trust and support of the employer is also important. We understand that returning to the normal rhythm of life for such a socially sensitive group as the convicts is not the easiest task. But we want to help them get involved in the market, to show that everyone can do the same job. In Žalvaris, an unskilled worker earns an average of EUR 800 after taxes per month," – Vitoldas Sapožnikovas says.

According to him, often companies still heavily employ convicts for financial reasons as well. The employment of such persons is related to additional costs for the employer – it is necessary to guarantee the safe delivery of these workers to work and the prison colony, so it is necessary to hire transport to ensure this service. The cost of such a workplace to the employer, depending on the company’s activities and the location of the prison colony, can be an additional EUR 1,600 to 2,000 per month.

Support of Covid-19 has provided the conditions for unemployment

Žalvaris launched the program for the integration of convicts in the labour market in the autumn of 2020, after experiencing the first major difficulties in attracting employees to the market. The restrictions of Covid-19 and quarantine have changed the situation radically – it has become uninteresting for workers living in Lithuania and receiving pandemic benefits to work, and it has become very difficult to bring foreigners and offer them a job in our country.

"In previous years, we did not experience any major difficulties in employment of warehouse workers – unskilled workers, waste sorters, truck drivers or freight forwarders. We were constantly looking for employees in these fields, but the vacancies were quickly filled in. And this was undoubtedly influenced not only by the optimal working hours – we work from 8.00 am to 4.30 pm, clearly regulated breaks, but also by the fact that our remuneration for the employees of the above positions corresponds to the average Lithuanian salary or is even higher," – Vitoldas Sapožnikovas states.

According to the data of the website rekvizitai.lt, the average gross salary paid by the hazardous and non-hazardous waste management facility Žalvaris in April amounted to EUR 2,010, which is 1.2 to 1.5 times higher than the average salary paid by other three large waste sector companies in April this year.

There are jobs, but the lack of willing to work

However, even above-average salaries often do not motivate low-skilled workers. According to Akvilė Kazlienė, the Director of personnel solutions company Simplika and CVO Recruitment, this approach is related to several main reasons. The first is the personal attitude of a particular person to work, the unwillingness to take it regardless of the remuneration offered.

"Currently, the paradox prevails in the entire labour market: although the unemployment rate in Lithuania has increased by 15% and there are jobs, there is a shortage of specialists in practically all fields. The situation is complicated: although people look for advertisements, they are not applied for them, and only a third of those interested in the position feel motivation for work," – Akvilė Kazlienė says. According to her, such an attitude was greatly influenced by quarantine – many feel tired and changing jobs does not improve their emotional state.

"We actively work with candidates from various fields, we call them ourselves, we offer jobs. However, only a small proportion are interested in the advertisements, and only 2 out of 10 candidates show interest and desire to continue the conversation," – the recruitment expert says.

According to Akvilė Kazlienė, another reason for such indifference is a weakened self-confidence. Some people give up in despair too early, unnecessarily underestimate their opportunities, and are afraid of not matching. This is especially relevant to socially sensitive groups – the disabled, convicts, etc.

On the other hand, it is becoming easier for them to adapt – many companies feel a greater responsibility to reduce social exclusion, more often accepting those who are willing to work. "Employers' attitudes change depending on the attitudes of the employees themselves and the number of employees they lack. If their need is felt, all channels are searched for, and more vulnerable groups are included," – Akvilė Kazlienė says.

Not only remuneration motivates

As companies found it harder to find those who are willing to work, they began to apply the workplace "measurement" model – after the receipt of several offers, candidates are invited to test the position, feel whether it is suitable, whether they like it, and get acquainted with the company's culture more closely.

"Remuneration is no longer the only motive. A comfortable workplace, commuting, additional values, the possibility of distance working has become important for many employees. In addition, as the level of education increases, the number of people willing to perform unskilled work decreases. Therefore, there are cases when specialists choose to work even for a lower salary, but give priority to mental work," – Akvilė Kazlienė says.

According to her, there is the biggest shortage of IT specialists in the market today, the need for accountants, financial analysts and senior accountants, as well as for personnel and recruitment specialists has increased. In recent years, the sales, customer service, digital marketing sectors and engineers in various fields have attracted more interest from employers. There is also a severe shortage of unskilled workers.

"Now, on average, people change their job very 3-5 years, and in the IT sector the change is twice faster. Many are no longer inclined to stay in the same workplace, if they do not see prospects therein, they are more courageous to change. Meanwhile, employers are also looking for people willing to work – the need for responsible, enterprising employees who want to improve their skills remains in every company," – Akvilė Kazlienė assures.