Chapter IV. The National Economy and Labour
Article 46
The economy of Lithuania shall be based on the right of private ownership, freedom of individual economic activity, and economic initiative.
The State shall support economic efforts and initiative that are useful to society.
The State shall regulate economic activity so that it serves the general welfare of the Nation.
The law shall prohibit the monopolisation of production and the market, and shall protect freedom of fair competition.
The State shall defend the interests of the consumer.
Article 47
The subsurface, as well as the internal waters, forests, parks, roads, and historical, archaeological, and cultural objects of state importance, shall belong by right of exclusive ownership to the Republic of Lithuania.
The Republic of Lithuania shall have the exclusive rights to the airspace over its territory, its continental shelf, and the economic zone in the Baltic Sea.
In the Republic of Lithuania, foreign entities may acquire the ownership of land, internal waters, and forests according to a constitutional law.
Plots of land may belong to a foreign state by right of ownership for the establishment of its diplomatic missions and consular posts according to the procedure and conditions established by law.
Article 48
Everyone may freely choose a job or business, and shall have the right to have proper, safe, and healthy conditions at work, as well as to receive fair pay for work and social security in the event of unemployment.
The work of foreigners in the Republic of Lithuania shall be regulated by law.
Forced labour shall be prohibited.
Military service or alternative service performed instead of military service, as well as work performed by citizens in time of war, natural disaster, epidemics, or other extreme cases, shall not be considered forced labour.
In cases where persons convicted by a court perform work regulated by law, such work shall not be considered forced labour, either.
Article 49
Every working person shall have the right to rest and leisure, as well as to annual paid leave.
The length of working time shall be established by law.
Article 50
Trade unions shall be established freely and shall function independently. They shall defend the professional, economic, and social rights and interests of employees.
All trade unions shall have equal rights.
Article 51
While defending their economic and social interests, employees shall have the right to strike.
Limitations on this right and the conditions and procedure for its implementation shall be established by law.
Article 52
The State shall guarantee its citizens the right to receive old-age and disability pensions, as well as social assistance in the event of unemployment, sickness, widowhood, the loss of the breadwinner, and in other cases provided for by law.
Article 53
The State shall take care of the health of people and shall guarantee medical aid and services for a person in the event of sickness. The procedure for providing medical aid to citizens free of charge at state medical establishments shall be established by law.
The State shall promote the physical culture of society and shall support sport.
The State and each person must protect the environment from harmful influences.
Article 54
The State shall take care of the protection of the natural environment, wildlife and plants, individual objects of nature, and areas of particular value, and shall supervise the sustainable use of natural resources, as well as their restoration and increase.
The destruction of land and subsurface, the pollution of water and air, radioactive impact on the environment, as well as the depletion of wildlife and plants, shall be prohibited by law.