Page 82 - BROCHURE-EUROGUIDANCE

There is currently a shortage of qualified labour in the following areas: mechanics
and electricity, automobiles, electricity (engineers), shipyards, civil engineering
(technicians), engineering, IT and communications, telemarketing, health and
social services. There are therefore places to be taken for trainees.
However, the search for a course can be long and may require multiple
applications. Consult the company directories, particularly those for French and
international companies established in the country: mainly in the financial, real
estate, manufacturing and trade sectors. Contacting companies direct works well
in the search for courses in the engineering or scientific fields.
Business languages are Russian and English.
Finding a course: a few websites
÷ The main site for course offers in Latvia www.prakse.lv
÷ Information on employment, the drafting of CV and courses in Latvia (in
Latvian) www.nva.gov.lv
÷ The French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Latvia: www.cfl.lv
÷ A guide is produced in October each year listing the main Latvian
businesses likely to accommodate trainees. It can be downloaded from:
www.karjera.lu.lv/eng/news
÷ Consult business directories: www.1188.lv
Professional organizations
÷ Latvian association of the pharmaceutical industry and chemical products:
www.lakifa.lv/en
÷ Latvian association of the metallurgical and mechanical industry: www.
masoc.lv/en
÷ Latvian association of the forestry industry: www.apesnovads.lv/english
÷ Latvian Business Association (LTA): test.lta.lv/english.
Useful blog
French language blog specialising in the current affairs in the Baltic and Nordic
Countries, posted by the journalist Antoine Jacob: jacobnordiques.blogspot.fr
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Courses in Lithuania
This small Baltic country in northern Europe, although badly affected by
the 2008 crisis of 2008, has experienced one of the fastest revivals in Europe. The
industrial sector is diverse, with electronics, chemical products, machine tools,
the treatment of metals, construction materials, household appliances, agri-food,
clothing, furniture and domestic appliances. There are also oil refineries and
shipyards.
The economic signals are generally set at green in Lithuania. The service sector
is developed and employs 66% of the working population (25% for the industrial
sector and 9% for agriculture). It should be noted that the country has seen a 20%
reduction in its population over the past two decades and the departure of young
people continues to worry the government.
Lithuania also has good prospects for development, particularly in the sectors of
energy, transport, biotechnology and agri-food.
Name and legal framework
Praktika, Stažuotės
An Employment Law covering traineeships came into force on 1 July 2017.
There are two types of course in Lithuania: educational and professional. The first
concerns students and pupils. However, the practice of courses is fairly recent,
and not yet very widespread in Latvia; it is therefore easier to arrange a course in
the context of an institutional programme like Erasmus+.
Anyone under the age of 29 can agree a voluntary course contract with a company
for a maximum period of two months.
These courses may be paid, in the form of a grant.
It is essential to have mastery of at least English.
Normal weekly working hours in Lithuania are 40 hours.
Practical life
Cost of living: cheap, or even very cheap for food. 80 € per month may be enough.
In restaurants, a main course costs between four and seven euros at lunchtime, a
little more in the evening.
Accommodation: typical price for renting a studio: 240€ per month in Vilnius,
200€ per month in Kaunas, 160€ per month in Klaipėda.
Some useful sites: www.trumpam.lt/EN
www.studyinlithuania.lt/en/
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