MULTIPLE DISCRIMINATION AND LABOUR INCOME: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF LEGAL REGULATIONS IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES (MEDALIC)
The Research Council of Lithuania has awarded funding for the postdoctoral fellowship project “Multiple Discrimination and Labour Income: A Comparative Analysis of Legal Regulations in European Countries” (MEDALIC) led by Dr Raimonda Bublienė, a postdoctoral fellow and a researcher at the Law Institute of the Lithuanian Centre of Social Science (LI LCSS).
Multiple discrimination is a complex phenomenon that affects economically and socially vulnerable groups in society, such as persons with disabilities, individuals from different ethnic and racial backgrounds, older people, and others. They may face discrimination at various stages of the employment relationship – from the recruitment process, through daily work processes and remuneration, to termination or retirement.
Despite the progress made by European Union countries in reducing pay inequality over the past decades, academic literature still lacks comprehensive research on discrimination related to remuneration. This gap in scholarly knowledge is precisely what gives rise to the aim of the project – to provide a theoretical and practical comparative analysis of how multiple discrimination in employment relations is linked to work-related income. To achieve this, a combination of methods will be used: comparative analysis of sources, analysis of statistical data and legal frameworks, and a qualitative research tool – semi-structured interviews with experts working in the field of the study.
The insights generated from the collected data will be disseminated through academic publications in both Lithuanian and international journals. Project findings will also be presented at a national scientific seminar, as well as at international conferences, contributing to broader scholarly discourse. Moreover, popular science articles will be prepared to engage the wider public. Ultimately, the project aims to develop evidence-based recommendations for public authorities, offering strategies to address income inequality within the scope of anti-discrimination law.
Postdoctoral Fellow – Dr Gabrielė Taminskaitė-Kočiūnė. – Dr Raimonda Bublienė.
Postdoctoral Fellowship supervisor – Prof. Dr Ingrida Mačernytė-Panomariovienė.
Project duration: 2024-11-04 to 2026-10-31.
Project budget – €117 984.
The project is funded by the Research Council of Lithuania (LMTLT), contract no. S-PD-24-155.
Projects’ production
Internships:
- From 20 June to 4 July, the researcher undertook an internship at the Academy of European Law (ERA), where she participated in the Academy’s summer course on European labour law. The course featured lectures by various labour law experts and included a study visit to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). Participants had the opportunity to attend a hearing in a workplace discrimination case. During her internship in Germany, Dr. Raimonda Bublienė established valuable cooperation networks, made use of the Academy’s scholarly resources, and took part in other productive meetings.
- Following her stay in Germany, from 15 to 22 July R. Bublienė visited the Equality Unit of the University of Vigo (Spain) (Unidad de Igualdad de la Universidad de Vigo). This unit is responsible for implementing equal opportunities policies within the university. Its staff also design, promote, monitor, and evaluate measures aimed at integrating the gender perspective into all areas of university life and community activities. During her internship, the researcher from the Law Institute presented her ongoing project and discussed potential avenues for further cooperation. Colleagues from the Equality Unit shared information about their activities, work practices, and the challenges they address concerning discrimination in employment and work income.
- Subsequently, from 10 to 13 December, R. Bublienė participated in a postdoctoral research fellowship at the Max Planck Institute for Social Law and Social Policy in Munich and the Max Planck Institute for Comparative and International Private Law in Hamburg. During the fellowship, the researcher from the Law Institute met with Prof. Dr. Ulrich Becker and Nicola Wesselburg to discuss possibilities for further cooperation. The ongoing project was also presented during the fellowship, and the researcher made use of the scientific resources available at the institutes.
- Finally, from 19 to 21 March, R. Bublienė visited the Institute for European Global Studies at the University of Basel, Switzerland. During the fellowship, she held a meeting with Prof. Dr. Christa Tobler to discuss the ongoing research project.
Presentation of project results at conferences and other events:
- On May 15–16, the Faculty of Business Management at VILNIUS TECH hosted the international scientific conference “Business and Management 2025” for the 15th time. In one of the eight conference sections, “Legal Business Environment”, Dr. Bublienė presented her topic: “Impact of Multiple Discrimination to the Application of the Principle of Equal Pay”
- A presentation titled “Multiple Intersectional Discrimination Impact on Labour Income” in the 4th International Conference on Discrimination, organized by the Centre for the Experimental-Philosophical Study of Discrimination (CEPDISC) at Aarhus University. The conference on September 25, 2025 took place in the city of Horsens, Kingdom of Denmark.
- Presentation entitled “Labour Income and the Dimension of Multiple Discrimination” at the 15th International Conference “Work and Non-Work, Today: Reframing the Issue Through an Interdisciplinary Approach”, organised by ADAPT’s International School of Higher Education in Labour and Industrial Relations. The conference took place on 26–28 November 2025 in Bergamo, Republic of Italy.
- A presentation titled “Intersectional Discrimination and Equal Pay” at the XV European Congress of the International Society for Labour and Social Security Law (ISLSSL), titled “Social Europe under Strain – Contemporary Challenges of National and European Labour and Social Security Laws”. The conference took place on 16–18 September 2026 in Ljubljana, Republic of Slovenia.
Scientific publications:
- Bublienė, R. 2026. Daugialypės tarpsektorinės diskriminacijos problematika Darbo santykiuose. Jurisprudencija, 33 (1), 71–88. DOI: https://doi.org/10.13165/JUR-26-33-1-04.
- Bublienė, R. 2026. Intersectional discrimination in the context of employment and sustainability issues: comparative analysis in European countries. Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Issues, 14 (1), 480–489. DOI: https://doi.org/10.9770/w6446836528.
- Bublienė, R., Panomariovienė, I. M., Burinskienė, A. 2026. Intersectional Discrimination in Employment in the Digital Age: Sex, Age, Email Non-Use and Unemployment in the EU. Social Sciences, 15 (9), 638. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/15/9/638.
Promoting the results of scientific research:
- R. Bublienė. „A Month of International Research Fellowships: New Insights, Experiences and Opportunities for Cooperation“. 26 August 2025, Infolex.
- R. Bublienė. „Researcher’s Presentation Explores the Links Between Multiple Discrimination and Labour Income“. 23 December 2025, Infolex.
- R. Bublienė. „Raimonda Bublienė: Women in Lithuania Are Paid Less Not Only Because of Their Gender“. 6 February 2026, LRT.lt.