Lithuania is preparing to reduce the share of foreign drivers, including Ukrainians, in transport companies

Lithuania plans to introduce restrictions on the influx of foreign workers, including Ukrainians, to protect the local labor market. According to preliminary data, this year the limit of residence and work permits for citizens of foreign countries will not exceed 1,4% of the number of citizens of the Baltic Republic.

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This initiative has caused concern among Lithuanian carriers, as they will face labor shortages and, with a high probability, will be forced to reduce business and staff. The local transport association protested against the innovation, emphasizing the importance of the transport industry for the country's national economy (it contributes almost 13% of GDP).

Poland is also worried about the negative consequences for its labor market as a result of the official Vilnius decision (some truckers may re-register their business in Warsaw's jurisdiction due to new rules in Lithuania, which may lead to a decrease in transport volumes and downsizing in transport companies).

According to the current statistics of the European Council on Safety in the Transport Sector, about 90% of Lithuanian truck drivers are not EU citizens. The majority of such employees are Ukrainians, Indians and Belarusians. At the same time, in a number of transport companies such as Girteka, the share of Ukrainian citizens in driver positions reaches 50%.