Lithuania’s quota for hiring foreign workers remains unchanged at 40,300 in 2024
Next year’s quota for facilitated hiring of third-country workers on the list of professions in short supply in Lithuania has been set at 40,250.
The 2024 quota, set by Social Security and Labour Minister Monika Navickienė last Friday, includes 25,100 workers in haulage and other service companies, 9,800 in construction, 5,050 in industry, and 300 in agriculture.
The ministry raised this year’s quota by 4,300 on November 28 after the earlier approved quota for hiring truck drivers from third countries ran out.
Once the quota is exhausted, employers can still hire foreign nationals whose professions are on the list, but they have to apply to the Employment Service for a work permit costing more than 100 euros or a decision on work compliance.
Linava, the Lithuanian National Road Carriers’ Association, has earlier called on the authorities to raise the quota limit as soon as possible to ensure that the logistics sector’s operations are not disrupted during the holiday period or consider scrapping quotas altogether.
Hauliers say that quota limits cause millions of euros in losses for businesses every year.