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 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.
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.