According to the official statistics of the Lithuanian Labor Exchange, there are 376 job seekers from among refugees from Ukraine for 22 teacher vacancies.
Recall that on March 9 this year, the Lithuanian government initiated Decree No. 205, which includes amendments to the law on employment. In particular, there are introductory benefits for workers hired from abroad and benefits for employers who hire workers from abroad (this applies to refugees). The expected benefit is four times less than the minimum wage in Lithuania (1,557 euros). In such a situation, Lithuanian specialists become less competitive than cheap Ukrainian applicants. The experience of Lithuania is planned to be used by many countries of the European Union, which may cause a wave of discontent among the local population, which may lose their jobs. The representative of the Lithuanian Teachers’ Union stated that the citizens of the country should have the priority of employment in their own country and the government should not forget about it. It should be noted that this problem has already formed in Poland. Refugees from Ukraine receive a one-time allowance of PLN 300. In addition, since November 2021, there are changes in the rules for the employment of foreigners, according to which the Polish government guarantees them a minimum wage of PLN 300, regardless of the number of hours worked on the basis of a contract. Experts estimate the influx of refugees from Ukraine to Europe in the amount of 5 to 9 million people, which can lead to serious consequences on the labor market in a number of countries that have adopted protectionist rules regarding refugees and infringing on the rights of local residents. Potentially, this situation could redraw the political map of Europe. Poland, Germany, Lithuania, France may well change the ruling parties and even presidents in 1-2 years.
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