Two Vietnamese women who have been running a small business in Lithuania for almost six years are now facing deportation. The reason is that their business is not employing any locals. The women in Šiauliai are angry that they were not warned in advance and say all their life is here.
The Vietnamese café in Šiauliai, Lithuania’s fourth biggest town in the north of the country, has been working since 2019. Now, however, its owners, two Vietnamese women, have received a letter from the Migration Department saying that they must leave the country within 14 days or else they will be deported.
“We are working hard. We try to do everything properly. But they give us no warning... Our hearts break. I don’t know what to do,” says Thi Phuong Dung Le, co-owner of the business.
The two cousins also ran a beauty salon in Vilnius but had it closed last spring due to financial difficulties. As a result, they had to let go of their local staff. Not employing any locals in their businesses is the reason why Vietnamese businesswomen are now facing deportation.
“The most important thing is that since March, we no longer have Lithuanians working here. But this is just a temporary break, we are trying to recover from the losses we suffered in the Vilnius beauty salon,” says Ngoc Anh Thu Vu, co-owner of the business.
The cousins say they had plans to set up a small shop in Šiauliai to employ Lithuanians. But they have to leave Lithuania next week.
“We sold our home in Vietnam to come here. Our whole life is here. And now, without any warning, they haven’t even allowed us to make changes, they said there are no options. We can appeal the decision within 14 days, but we still have to leave the country,” says Ngoc Anh Thu Vu.
People in Šiauliai support the Vietnamese and even started collecting signatures under a petition.
“I don’t think it’s fair to treat immigrants who are sincerely working,” says a woman from Šiauliai.
Evelina Gudzisnkaitė, head of the Migration Department, says the rule is that foreigners who wish to do business in Lithuania must employ at least two Lithuanians or residents of other EU countries. The Vietnamese business has not been observing this rule for the last eight months.
“When the Migration Department is informed [about difficulties to meet the rule] and if the foreigner shows their business plan, that they are having a hard time right now but will employ [Lithuanians] shortly, [...] shows evidence that they are making efforts to meet the requirements, then the Migration Department cooperates,” Gudzinskaitė insists.
If the Vietnamese women do not leave Lithuania by December 4, they will be deported. They are planning to appeal the decision. Their attorney says that the Migration Department is violating their freedom and right to integration.
“We must not apply the law mechanically and formally,” says the lawyer, Deivydas Poška.
What makes matters worse, he adds, is that even if Thi Phuong Dung Le and Ngoc Anh Thu Vu appeal the Migration Department’s decision and can prove their case, they are still required to leave Lithuania.
The lawyer will ask the court to allow Vietnamese women to stay in Lithuania while the appeal is being examined.
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