Members of the Lithuanian Seimas National Security and Defense Committee (NSGK) have indicated that Lithuania should tighten regulations for migrants working in the country, both in terms of language skills and security checks.
The quota of migrant workers set for 2025 will be met already this month, and almost 25 thousand workers from abroad have arrived in the country. Most have arrived from Central Asian countries and work in the transport, logistics and construction sectors.
According to the head of the Lithuanian Migration Service, Evelina Gudzinskaitė, the current security checks are no longer sufficient, given the growing risk. She said that there are people who really come with the aim of working, but once in Lithuania, they start forming groups and engaging in activities hostile to Lithuania. Grudzinskaite added that this is mainly monitored by other agencies, but the Migration Service also carries out controls within its competence.
There have been no incidents to date that would indicate that foreign workers are involved in crimes against the state; public reports do not indicate this either. However, while company representatives are calling for an increase in foreign worker quotas, committee members have pointed out that the migrant workforce is already having negative consequences.
Among the proposals under discussion are stricter requirements for learning the state language,
more thorough assessment of individuals and the need for data analysis on economic benefits.
Laurynas Kasčiūnas, deputy chairman of the committee and former Minister of Defense, insisted that a pragmatic approach is needed to mitigate risks. He said that a foreign worker comes with a contract, works and then leaves. Without integration, and the person is in the country temporarily, social and cultural risks can be avoided: “There’s a clear timeframe, clear safeguards, and a clear understanding of which sector they’re coming to work in.”
Currently, the majority of foreigners in Lithuania are Ukrainians (around 80,000), while the number of Belarusians has decreased sharply, but there are around 10,000 Russian citizens and a similar number of Uzbeks in Lithuania. There are also around 8,000 Indians in the country, and between 4,500 and 6,500 citizens of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
Committee Chairman Rimantas Sinkevičius assessed that the increasing number of immigrants from Central Asian countries poses a risk due to religious and cultural differences. He added that if nothing is done, we may have to face bigger problems in the future.
Politicians have said it is important to preserve religious freedom and act in accordance with human rights norms, but the government must address growing security threats.
Read the full article in English here: https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2744182/lithuanian-lawmakers-raise-alarm-over-security-risks-of-growing-migrant-workforce
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