It will be easier to employ foreigners on the Lithuanian farm

 "Farmers are increasingly complaining about the lack of workers, but the situation will change - it will be easier to employ foreigners in the country's farms next year. The Employment Service took into account the requests of the Ministry of Agriculture and farmers and added 8 more professions in the agricultural sector to the list of professions with a shortage of employees in the Republic of Lithuania.  

 

    From the next year, it will be possible to employ qualified workers for working with fruit trees, horticulture, mixed livestock farms, mushroom growers, milking equipment operators, tractor and combine harvester operators, bulldozers and excavator drivers in a simplified manner. The list of professions with a shortage of employees in the Republic of Lithuania also includes 24 professions related to the food industry and production. According to the Minister of Agriculture Kęstutis Navickas, a more flexible procedure for the employment of foreign workers will help to solve the growing problem of staff shortages.

 

    "In meetings with farmers or agricultural enterprises, I increasingly hear complaints about the lack of employees. As a result, not only is work stalled, but the survival of the farm is being considered. It is becoming increasingly difficult to find qualified professionals who have registered with the employment service, so it is normal for employers in other sectors of the economy to look for them abroad. However, due to lengthy and complicated procedures, a rare farmer decides to employ foreigners. Therefore, together with the Ministry of Social Security and Labor, its Employment Service and the social partners, we looked for ways to facilitate the employment of such persons. From next year, it will be easier for farms to hire qualified workers from abroad with professions included in the above-mentioned list, ”says Minister of Agriculture K. Navickas.

 

    Vitalija Kuliešienė, President of the Lithuanian Commercial Gardens Association "Fruit and Berries", welcomed this message, because, according to her, there is a great shortage of workers on the farms, which is why gardeners suffer and even consider closing down. "There are already two farms in the association that promise to reduce their activities due to the lack of employees. Already this year, there have been a lot of losses - the harvest is closing and there is a lack of quality labor. Apples will not wait. In this way, dessert apples turn into drops,” - says the president of the association, whose members supply supermarkets in Lithuania. 

 

According to V. Kuliešienė, most employees could be attracted from Ukraine. Important information for employers A farmer or agricultural company needs to know a few essential things in order to employ people from abroad. After finding a potential employee, the employer must fill in and submit a mediation letter electronically in the Lithuanian Migration Information System (MIGRIS). After assigning this number, the employer must hand it over to an employee who will have to apply to the Lithuanian Embassy for a visa in their country. The employer will no longer need to contact the Employment Service and will be able to contact the Migration Department for more detailed information.

 

    This procedure is valid until the established quota of employees is used up. If necessary, the quota may be adjusted during the year. The most important thing is that employers inform the Employment Service about the need for employees. It is also important that foreigners may be employed for unskilled work for seasonal work for which the list is not valid."