Labour migration
SHORT OVERVIEW:
During the last 20 years of independence, over half a million of Lithuanians have emigrated abroad. Before joining the EU seeking better opportunities abroad often included illegal employment, risks of trafficking and later on overtly negative perceptions about living in Lithuania.
Identifying the lack of objective information as one of the major problems of unsuccessful migration, IOM Vilnius took up the job of consulting and providing unbiased information to potential and current migrants as one of the main objectives.
While activities until 2007 were mostly targeted at emigrating Lithuanians, it has started to include immigrants (mostly labour) from abroad. Today more attention is also given to re-integration of returning Lithuanians. Throughout all projects, the youth has remained a special target group especially in preventing unsafe migration.
INFORMATION RELATED ACTIVITIES IN LITHUANIA:
Main activities include:
· Research, analysis & dissemination of migration related information
· Consultations/ counseling for migrants via phone, internet and in person
· Creation and maintenance of specialized informative website
· Public events for migrants and potential migrants (i.e. information & job fairs in Lithuania and abroad)
· Seminars/ round table meetings for specialists
· Preventive seminars for youth
· Other, e.g. special research and documentary about migrant’s children
RESULTS:
The following results have been achieved over the period of the past decade:
o Migration information centre has been established and made fully operational; consultations and information for all types of migrants have been provided (not extended due to funding problems);
o Information materials, including specialized brochures (7, in 3 languages) on migration related topics have been prepared and disseminated;
o 4 Labor and Migration information fairs have been organized:
- 2 information fairs “Work abroad – choose legal” for potential emigrants, promoting legal employment possibilities abroad, organized in Vilnius;
- “Live and work in Lithuania” for Lithuanians (emigrants and potential migrants) and immigrants to Lithuania, about possibilities to live and work in Lithuania, organized in Vilnius;
- Labour information fair “Saddle up your horses, folks!” for Lithuanian emigrants in Ireland organized in 2 Irish cities: Dublin and Monaghan with the intention to promote return migration.
o Public events/ training sessions/ seminars have been organized:
- 13 public lectures, 4 round table discussions have been organized;
- 2 seminars/ discussions for specialists on burning issues have been organized;
- 8 joint seminars with municipalities have been organized;
- 2 seminars for media representatives have been organized.
o Public lectures, TV/ Radio debates, publications in media;
o 25 preventive seminars for youth have been organized;
o In-depth comprehensive research on the situation and problems of separated migrant families, with special emphasis on migrants’ children left behind, has been carried out, printed and distributed to relevant stakeholders;
o A special documentary “…Alone at home” (on burning migration problems of families separated by migration) produced and screened on Lithuanian TV channel “LNK” and several regional TV channels.
Ongoing projects:
Independent Network of Labour Migration and Integration Experts (LINET), Coord. IOM Brussels, donor - DG for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities of the European Commission. More
Completed projects:
* Labour Information Fair in Ireland, July 2008 to June 2009
* Establishment of an independent Migration Information Centre in Lithuania, November 2006 to October 2007 extended until 30 October 2008
* Gender Aspects of Migrant Family Separation: Case Study in Lithuania, November 2006 – December 2007
* Prevention of illegal labour migration: Highlighting legal opportunities in the expanded EU and beyond, March 2004 – September 2004