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<< atgalLPSDPS representatives met with the Director of the Lithuanian Labor Exchange

2010-03-10

2 of March. Ramunas Narbutas Drivers' trade union chairman and Aleksandras Posochovas Lithuanian service workers' trade union chairman met with the Lithuanian Labor Exchange director Mindaugas Petras Balašaitis.

Purpose of the meeting - to discuss the international carriage drivers employment problems. One of them - work permits for foreigners schemes.

According to the representatives of Lithuanian Labor Exchange (LDB), in 2008 LDB issued 7819 work permits to foreigners in Lithuania, of which - 2713 work permits to drivers.

In 2009 LDB issued 2239 work permits to foreigners in Lithuania, among them - 726 work permits to the drivers. In 2009 was issued 3.5 times less (3.73 times less to drivers) than the work permits to foreigners in 2008.

Granting of work permits decline is directly related to reduced flow of employers' requests. Such trends were led by the overall economic situation, labor market changes.

In 2009 most permits were issued to foreigners to work in transport, storage and communications (32 percent), and manufacturing  (30 percent) economic sectors.

According to association Linava, it represents companies with 50 thousand employees. According to Mr. Narbutas the conclusion could be made that about 10 percent of all drivers (lets say is about 35 thousand) 3439 are foreigners, whose permits are issued for up to two years. Many of them (about 2700 drivers) permits authorization expire this year.

Considering that the truck fleet has decreased to 25 thousand, the problem really relevant. But according to the Labor Exchange, demand for drivers is so high that LDB cannot offer so many local drivers. In Balašaitis view, if there is lack of local professionals, permits will be issued to foreigners.

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