VIKTOR POSUDNEVSKY attends a Lithuanian employment fair in Dublin, and learns that emotional and not economical reasons motivate the trickle of Lithuanians who are now returning
There is a hopeful elated look in Valentinas LukoševiÄius’s eyes when he talks about returning to his native Lithuania next March, after six years in Ireland. And that look is still there when he acknowledges that his future at home will be uncertain.
“I’m not leaving for economic reasons,” he says. “I have a job in Ireland. I am leaving because I miss my family and friends. If my priority was money I would stay. Even if you lose your job you’re better off in Ireland. At least here you can survive on unemployment benefits unlike in Lithuania.”
He says Lithuanians who are losing their jobs in Ireland tend to relocate to countries like the UK or Australia rather than go home, as the economic situation in Lithuania appears to be even worse than here. Yet Valentinas has made the decision to return. “We have a crisis,” he says, “but in future the country is going to grow and I want to be there when it does. Lithuania is where I was brought up, where my friends and family are, and I want to be home.”
However, with the Lithuanian economy shrinking, few others seem to share Valentinas’ enthusiasm. A relatively low number of visitors attended the recent job fair for Lithuanians living in Ireland, organised by the Vilnius office of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
The job and information fair targeting Lithuanians who may be considering returning home, took place in Dublin and Monaghan last weekend. Around 250 visitors – less than one per cent of the estimated number of Lithuanians living in the Dublin area – turned up for the Dublin event, according to the fair’s organisers. And an estimated 100 people attended the Monaghan event.
“We are not coming to tell everyone to come back, this is not a political event,” said Audra SipaviÄienÄ—, head of the IOM Vilnius office. “The aim is to make people aware of the conditions they can create for themselves at home and then make an informed decision – whether it is to return to Lithuania, stay in Ireland, or even migrate elsewhere.”
Exhibitors at the fair included Lithuanian state bodies, universities and various consultants, as well as several Lithuanian employers. According to the exhibitors, few of those expressing interest had made a definite decision to leave Ireland. “Even if they lose their job in Ireland, most people first try to find another job here and only then think about leaving,” said Renata GaliliunienÄ—, who represented Cityservice Lt, a Lithuanian construction firm. “The salaries in Lithuania are not nearly as good as here and at the moment there are not many jobs around because of the economic crisis.”
GiedrÄ— SkulskytÄ—, HR project manager with PersoRenta, a Lithuanian recruitment firm, knows this too well. “Previously employers were ringing us like mad trying to find people,” she said. “But now there are much fewer vacancies and the competition for every job has intensified.”
SkulskytÄ— herself left Lithuania for the UK, returning home after four years. Like LukoševiÄius, she was primarily motivated by homesickness.
“I had a good job in London, but I missed home,” she said. “I thought that with my experience, education and languages I would land a top job straight away [on my return], but this was not the case. So in the beginning I had to take up a relatively low-paying job and it was tough. But now I’m quite happy with my life in Lithuania.”
The transition was easier for Marija BakunaitÄ—, who worked as a reception manager in a British hotel before returning to Lithuania. She initially got a job as a receptionist in a five-star hotel in Vilnius, but within the space of several months was promoted to front office manager thanks to her experience abroad. However, when it comes to money, she still misses her British job at times.
“Yes, the money in Lithuania is less,” she said. “But at the same time you’re home, you’re a local. I decided to return because I missed my family and friends and the crisis had nothing to do with it. Some people care only for money, but for others what you feel inside is more important.”
