Following nationwide searches carried out in May last year, investigations into the exploitation of foreign drivers are continuing in Lithuania. In recent days, the Regional Prosecutor of Vilnius, Edita Ignatavičiūtė, who specialises in crimes related to human trafficking and forced labour, gave an extensive interview to Lrt, the national public broadcaster, stressing that labour exploitation in the transport and logistics sector is not an isolated phenomenon but a systemic issue within the industry.
According to the Prosecutor’s Office, numerous Lithuanian companies have adopted business models based on the recruitment of low-cost labour and the use of coercive practices against drivers, leading to a dangerous normalisation of abuse and illegal conduct that nonetheless remains difficult to prove. After a year of investigations, the Authorities have gained a detailed understanding of the exploitation mechanisms used by hauliers, but the vast volume of data to be verified is prolonging the inquiry.
The companies involved often deliberately fail to retain or refuse to provide key documents such as payslips, contracts or working time records, further complicating the work of the Authorities. In many cases, payslips are not even sent to the drivers and, in such circumstances, the only way to process the available data and identify errors or fraud in wage calculations is to rely on IT consultants and industry experts.
Despite these difficulties, the Lithuanian Prosecutor’s Office remains confident about the outcome of the operation. "The investigation is complex and cannot be both fast and of high quality at the same time," the interview states. “The case will then be discussed in Court and the trial may also take a long time. Some may sleep soundly now, but the time to worry will soon come.” The Prosecutor also clarified that the aim of the investigation is not to destroy businesses but rather to restore legality and dignity to workers.
“Those who arrive from a third country most often come from economically less developed nations. They come from difficult financial situations and are often already in debt because they have had to bear costs to reach Europe, which places them in a position of vulnerability,” the Prosecutor said. “They are usually men who leave their families behind and have no other source of income. Upon arrival in Lithuania, they find themselves in circumstances very different from those expected, with lower-than-anticipated wages and unjustified deductions from their pay, which often creates significant psychological as well as financial stress. In Lithuania they must pay for food and accommodation and cover medical expenses.
Those who become involved in abusive situations feel deceived by their employer but lack the means to defend their interests. Foreign workers face profound linguistic and cultural barriers and often do not even know their rights.” The interview concludes with an appeal from the Prosecutor urging all institutions to cooperate in developing a dedicated investigative model to identify and combat fraud and abuse in the transport sector.
Marco Martinelli
