Lithuania’s migration department removes Vlantana from approved companies list

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Amid a storm of allegations regarding the mistreatment of drivers from non-EU countries working for Lithuanian hauliers, road transport firm Vlantana has been struck off Lithuania’s approved list of companies for migrant workers.

According to Lithuanian news website alfa.lt, Vlantana was removed from the list due to suspected fraudulent accounting among other things, including allegations of crimes related to bribery, illegal employment and human trafficking.

Although the news was reported this morning, the haulage giant was actually dropped from the list back in February.

As a consequence of being struck off the list, Vlantana will find it more difficult (bot not impossible) to hire drivers from outside the EU. As explained by alfa.lt, being on the list makes it more straightforward when employing people from 3rd countries. Visa applications require fewer documents, while the migrants themselves need not submit a work permit, employment contract, qualifications and proof of sufficient funds.

Vlantana launched an appeal against the decision from the migration department. However, the response was not the one the haulage giant was looking for. The migration department reacted by suing the haulier’s former executives.

T.Stonys, the CEO of Vlantana, is nonetheless adamant that his company meets all the criterium for being on the approved companies list, and as a result, the firm have filed a complaint with the court. Mr Stonys also told alfa.lt that the migration department’s decision would affect Vlantana’s recruitment:

The decision not to include the company in the list of approved companies undoubtedly has a negative impact not only on our company, but also on third-country employees who want to work for our company. The company is currently unable to use simplified recruitment on the list of missing professions, which complicates and prolongs the recruitment process. This not only prevents the company from carrying out the planned development, but also forces employees to wait until they can start working in our company.

In an interview published on Trans.INFO’s Lithuanian service yesterday, Mr Stonys also denied all the allegations made against Vlantana during a recent documentary film.


Photo credit: Jimmy / Flickr

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