According to them, the employment level in both districts is low, and transportation is an important criterion for job seekers.
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The mayor of Ignalina, Laimutis Ragaišis, told BNS that he welcomes any decision that improves conditions for employees, as the employment situation in the district is poor.
“Since the labor market situation and the unemployment rate have not changed significantly, we welcome any move to activate those people, to make it more convenient for them to work, to increase labor mobility,” L. Ragaišis told BNS.
He emphasized that it is almost 50 kilometers from Ignalina to the power plant in Visaginas: “And on the scale of Vilnius, that is far. If it is shift work that requires some kind of rotating schedule, and I think that is the case at the nuclear plant, then that is very good.”
At the same time, he stressed that the nuclear power plant is not the first company to provide free transportation for employees: “The nuclear power plant is not the first organization to do this. ‘Intersurgical’ and other organizations do such things; it is a tradition. We simply welcome this.”
“It’s a normal thing, companies – if they need a person (an employee – BNS), they take care of their well-being,” added the mayor of Ignalina.
Meanwhile, the mayor of Zarasai, about 35 kilometers from Visaginas, Nijolė Guobienė, told BNS that employee transportation services are especially important in winter.
“I look at it favorably if you want to attract employees. During winter, transportation is not so safe for people, so of course there will be greater attraction of employees,” N. Guobienė said. “The salary there (IAE – BNS) is quite good, I think (…) there would be residents who would want to go there to work.”
According to the mayor, offers of qualified work could encourage people to move to live in Zarasai: “Some would return to live. (…) Young people would return to live in Zarasai or come and move there because they are very interested.”
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About 750 employees living in Visaginas have been transported free of charge to IAE since September 2024, with 9 trips back and forth arranged for them, the company reported.
According to the company, the expanded service will facilitate employees’ commutes to work and may attract new people from surrounding areas.
“It is important for us not only to ensure the comfort of colleagues already working but also to create the best possible conditions for new employees from the entire region to join ‘Altra’. Free transport from Visaginas, Ignalina, and Zarasai districts is an additional benefit for employees and at the same time a way to reduce daily commuting obstacles,” said IAE head Linas Baužys in a statement.
There are 52 IAE employees living in Zarasai and the district, and 45 in Ignalina and the district. They are transported daily with two trips – back and forth.
“The employee no longer needs to think about a car, fuel costs, or organizing the trip – in the morning, they can get on a bus in their city or at a stop along the way and reach the workplace, and after the workday ends – return home,” the company’s statement said.
As BNS was informed by IAE, the company purchases the transportation service from the Transport Center. The cost of one trip from Visaginas in both directions is 58 euros (excluding VAT), from Ignalina – 98 euros, from Zarasai – 110 euros.
Almost 1,500 employees work at the nuclear power plant, according to “Sodra” data.
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