A Unifying Cause
As policymakers debated how to create a more sensible labor policy, events in the region reminded Lithuanians of how many people would also want to enjoy the same freedom and prosperity they do. People from neighboring Belarus sought to escape the clutches of their authoritarian government, and in 2022, when Russia accelerated its invasion of Ukraine, Lithuania also opened its doors to Ukrainian refugees. Nearly 31,000 Belarusians and 84,000 Ukrainians arrived that year under emergency measures.
“I think our Lithuanian society has seen with their own eyes that migrant workers want to work and to earn their living in a very dignified and honest way,” Aneta said.
The positive experience of welcoming so many newcomers to Lithuania assisted the LFMI team and business leaders in making the case for reform to the country’s policies.
“Our government institutions saw how pointless the regulations were,” Aneta said.
“We slashed visa rules, simplified them, cut the time it takes to get permits. And if this is possible to do for Belarusians—for Ukrainians—why not do it for others? So it's been very transformational, I think, for our economy and for public perceptions.”
Following reforms to Lithuania’s labor migration laws, new residency permits are being issued at a noticeably higher rate. While there were 1,453 successful applicants from Murat’s home country of Uzbekistan in 2022, there were already 1,852 in just the first half of 2023.
If workers keep up the pace, the number of migrants from countries other than Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia will double in comparison to the previous year. Former Soviet countries including Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Moldova are among the top contributors of new talent, but countries including India and Turkey are also rising on the list.
LFMI’s impactful effort providing freedom for entrepreneurs in Lithuania and workers from around the world has led not only to their recognition as an Atlas Network 2023 Smart Bets partner, but also to their nomination for the prestigious 2023 Templeton Freedom Award. This year isn’t the first time they have been recognized for their world-class work, however. LFMI won the Templeton Freedom Award in 2014 and 2016, and co-founder and president Elena Leontjeva was named the recipient of the 2022 Sir Antony Fisher Achievement Award.
“Atlas Network has served as an extraordinary platform for us to feel that we are a great movement—a great force that can make a difference,” said Aneta.
“They have done a great job in inspiring us to know that the sky’s the limit to what we can do, with all the commitment and dedication and passion that we have for the ideas of individual liberty and responsibility,” Aneta said.