PM expects average monthly salary to reach EUR 1,000 next year

The average monthly salary in Lithuania may reach the 1,000-euro mark next year, Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis said on Tuesday.

"I think we'll jump on that train next year," Skvernelis said while presenting his government's 2017 performance report to the Seimas.

He said this in response to a lawmaker's question about when the government expected the average monthly salary to cross "the psychologically important 1,000-euro mark".

The average gross monthly salary in Lithuania's economy, excluding sole proprietorships, stood at 884.8 euros in the fourth quarter of 2017.

The prime minister said that 2017 was a good year for the government.

"We managed to achieve very positive results, exceed expectations, implement a number of goals faster than planned," Skvernelis said.

"Last year, we paid particular attention to combatting poverty and inequality. More than 600 million euros were allocated for the fight against poverty and social exclusion," he said.

According to the prime minister, key decisions adopted last year included those on wages, pensions, the tax-exempt personal income threshold and children's benefits.

Skvernelis named an overhaul of state-owned enterprises as one of his government's major achievements.

This year, the government will launch tax, innovation, education, healthcare and pension reforms and new measures to curb the shadow economy, he said.

Skvernelis' government took office in December 2016.