Starting in 2026, foreign workers in Lithuania’s service industry — such as food couriers, taxi drivers, and retail employees — will be required to serve clients in Lithuanian. Earlier this month, the Lithuanian parliament passed the law to ensure that the national language remains prominent in daily interactions, particularly in sectors where foreign workers have become more common.
The government will establish specific language proficiency levels that foreign workers must meet. According to an article by the Lithuanian public broadcaster, Lithuanian Radio and Television (LRT), the move is intended to foster better integration of foreign workers into Lithuanian society, encouraging them to learn and use the language. The law asserts, “Citizens of the Republic of Lithuania should have the right to be served in the national language.”
While some exemptions are included, Lithuanian Justice Minister Ewelina Dobrowolsa pointed out that certain vulnerable workers might be disproportionately affected. According to an article in Schengen News, she cited the example of a Ukrainian vendor communicating in English, who could potentially face fines under the new rules.
Business leaders have also expressed concerns about the law’s impact on the gig economy, where flexibility and limited interaction with customers are key factors. Another LRT article quotes the CEO of food delivery company Wolt Baltics, Mantas Lomsargis, who argues that the law could hurt Lithuania’s competitiveness, especially since many couriers work less than 10 hours per week and may not be willing to invest time in language courses for such part-time roles. “The only situation where customers might need to communicate with a courier is when the courier cannot find the address,” he said. “Wolt already has an automatic translation tool to mediate this type of situation — it translates the customer’s message into the courier’s telephone language and vice versa.”
Other critics argue that the required A1-level proficiency might not be enough for workers to perform their duties effectively. In a YouTube video by the account Lithuania Explained, a language teacher suggested that while basic language skills are helpful for social integration, the level of proficiency required by the new law might not adequately prepare workers for specific customer-facing tasks.
