Lithuanian trade unions oppose president's plan to limit migrant workers' permits
Eight Lithuanian trade union organisations have urged politicians to reject President Gitanas Nausėda's proposed restrictions on foreign workers. They say the measures would make workers more dependent on their employers.
Eight organisations representing Lithuania's trade unions are calling on politicians to reject restrictions on migrant labour proposed by President Gitanas Nausėda. They argue the measures could deepen foreign workers' dependence on employers and make it harder for them to defend their rights, the Lithuanian Trade Union Confederation said on Thursday.
What the proposal involves
Under the planned system, foreigners would stay in Lithuania on fixed-term work permits. After two years of employment they would have to leave the country for at least six months. Bringing family members to Lithuania would not be allowed.
The president's office says the changes are meant to improve migration management and ease labour shortages in the Lithuanian economy. The fixed-term permits would mainly cover foreign nationals who plan to work in Lithuania temporarily rather than settle, such as long-haul truck drivers and construction workers. Entry and application procedures would be simplified so employers can recruit faster when they cannot find suitable local staff. Highly skilled workers from outside the European Union would not face the same restrictions. The office has also argued that the model would help stop family reunification from speeding up growth of the migrant population.
The Seimas, Lithuania's parliament, approved Nausėda's proposals in principle in mid-July.
The unions' objections
The confederation said its main concern is that the system could tie a foreigner's right to work and live in Lithuania to a specific employer. A worker would then struggle to change jobs even in cases of unpaid wages, poor working conditions or other violations.
Confederation chairwoman Dalia Jakutavičė said Lithuania should first ask why it cannot attract and retain workers, suggesting the problem may be the working conditions on offer rather than a lack of workers. In her words, businesses must compete on wages, conditions and productivity, not on workers' dependence. She added that two labour markets should not be created, one where people choose jobs freely and another where that choice is restricted.
The eight organisations are asking the presidential office, government and parliament to reassess the proposal and focus on measures that help companies recruit staff while expanding job opportunities for Lithuanian citizens.
