“In the camp, a person was an accessory to a shovel, and in Lithuania an immigrant is seen as an accessory to a vehicle,” the prosecutor says in an interview with the LRT.lt portal.
Systemic exploitation
According to E. Ignatavičiūtė, in recent years the investigation methodology has become more effective – law enforcement has gained a better understanding of how the transport and logistics sector works, the nuances of working time recording, financial flow analysis, and the requirements of the Mobility Package. However, the problem itself, she says, has not disappeared.
“In my assessment, in Lithuania we are dealing with systemic exploitation in the logistics sector. Most companies operate using similar models,” she says.
At present, the prosecutor is aware of more than six logistics companies operating in Lithuania against which pre-trial investigations are being conducted. This is only part of the overall picture, as other investigations may also be underway in other regions.
“An immigrant is a number on a timesheet”
The prosecutor points out that drivers coming to Lithuania – most often from Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan – expect European standards and functioning institutions. But the reality, she says, is often different.
“A foreign driver in a Lithuanian business structure (…) is a number on a timesheet. He is second-rate, with no rights at all: ‘Be glad we hired you, and we’ll still think about how much work to give you and how much to pay you for it,’” says E. Ignatavičiūtė.
She also criticises the so-called “paper circus” – situations where documents submitted to institutions do not reflect the real situation. According to her, documents are often in order, but a completely different reality may be hidden behind them. Employees often do not have access to documents, and sometimes, the prosecutor says, the required data are even concealed from law enforcement.
Lengthy investigations
Investigations in this area are complex and enormous in scope. To determine whether wages have been calculated correctly and whether working and rest time rules have been breached, it is necessary to collect testimonies, analyse accounting documents, and involve specialists.
“An investigation is complex and cannot be both fast and high-quality,” the prosecutor says.
Even after a case is referred to court, the process may take time. Interviews of foreign nationals with interpreters, complex financial schemes, and heavy court workloads – all of this prolongs the path to a final decision. And while the decision is still making its way to court, some victims’ motivation and faith in justice may fade.
“Sleep peacefully until we come”
Despite the complexity, the prosecutor sends a clear message to business.
“I always say: sleep peacefully until we come. If everything is in order with you – sleep peacefully. But if not, it’s time to worry,” she says.
According to her, the very start of a pre-trial investigation is already a preventive measure. The transport sector communicates closely, companies watch one another, so information about launched investigations encourages businesses to review their operating models.
The prosecutor stresses that her goal is not to “destroy business” but to prevent systemic violations. “I will not be an accomplice to a system that ignores this problem,” she says.
A growing sector and questions
Meanwhile, official data show that the number of heavy goods vehicle drivers in Lithuania grew by more than 4 thousand in a year, reaching 91.6 thousand. However, the prosecutor raises the question of whether declarations about labour shortages are masking models of exploiting cheap labour.
According to her, it is necessary to analyse real indicators, uninsured periods, working time records, and assess whether the sector truly needs that many additional employees, or whether the problem lies in the culture of work organisation.
Forms of exploitation are changing
A report published in August 2025 by the Seimas Ombudsmen’s Office states that 22 pre-trial investigations were launched for human trafficking, including 10 for forced labour, mostly in the transport sector, according to the VZ.lt portal.
Workers arriving in Lithuania from third countries entered legally, but faced exploitation: unpaid wages, overtime, and unsuitable working and living conditions.
Data from prosecutors’ offices show that methods of exploitation are changing – instead of confiscating documents, economic coercion is being used more and more often. Drivers are given unlawful fines, and artificial debts are created for alleged violations. Inspections in 2025 also revealed non-compliance with Mobility Package requirements, especially the failure to return drivers to their place of residence for rest.
The report emphasises that the real number of victims may be higher, because foreign drivers, fearing the loss of their residence permits in Lithuania, avoid contacting law enforcement.
According to E. Ignatavičiūtė, in recent years the investigation methodology has become more effective – law enforcement has gained a better understanding of how the transport and logistics sector works, the nuances of working time recording, financial flow analysis, and the requirements of the Mobility Package and tachographs. However, the problem itself, she says, has not disappeared.
Data from prosecutors’ offices show that methods of exploitation are changing – instead of confiscating documents, economic coercion is being used more and more often. Drivers are given unlawful fines, and artificial debts are created for alleged violations. Inspections in 2025 also revealed non-compliance with Mobility Package requirements, especially the failure to return drivers to their place of residence for rest.
At present, the prosecutor is aware of more than six logistics companies operating in Lithuania against which pre-trial investigations are being conducted. This is only part of the overall picture, as other investigations may also be underway in other regions.
Meanwhile, official data show that the number of heavy goods vehicle drivers in Lithuania grew by more than 4 thousand in a year, reaching 91.6 thousand. However, the prosecutor raises the question of whether declarations about labour shortages are masking models of exploiting cheap labour.
According to her, it is necessary to analyse real indicators, uninsured periods, working time records, and assess whether the sector truly needs that many additional employees, or whether the problem lies in the culture of work organisation and subcontracting.
