The authorities in Lithuania have suggested tightening employment criteria for companies planning to hire foreigners to work in the country, SchengenVisaInfo reported.

The Lithuanian Ministry of Internal Affairs has recommended only allowing foreigners with a residence permit to work in the country while denying work opportunities for foreigners entering the country under the visa-free regime or a Schengen visa.

Another proposal is putting a limit on the number of employers a foreigner can work for. The ministry suggested that a foreigner should not be allowed to work for more than three employers.

Additionally, employers should be obligated to hire foreigners on a full-time basis and provide information regarding the qualifications and experience of foreign workers.

Foreigners who failed to submit tax declarations would either be denied a temporary residence permit in Lithuania or face cancellation of the existing one.

In this regard, Lithuanian Minister of Internal Affairs Agnė Bilotaitė said that the increased number of foreigners coming to the country makes it more challenging for the authorities to maintain control.

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“While addressing labor shortages and humanitarian issues, we must not overlook threats to national security and prevent abuse of migration procedures,” he added.

In 2023, Lithuania denied or revoked temporary residence permits to as many as 6,112 individuals found of violating migration regulations, as per the Ministry’s data.

During the first two months of the ongoing year, the number of rejections or revocations has already reached 1,807 people.