Lithuanian fur industry workers face job losses ahead of 2027 ban

Workers in Lithuania's fur industry are expressing significant concern regarding a ban on keeping and breeding animals for fur or sale, which is set to take effect on January 1, 2027. Employees have addressed a letter to national leaders, stating that the closure of the sector threatens the livelihoods of nearly a thousand people, many of whom have worked in these farms for 15 to 20 years or more.

The workers highlighted that many farms are located in regions where finding alternative, well-paying employment is difficult, posing a risk of long-term unemployment or forced migration to larger cities or abroad. They are calling for mechanisms that would allow farms to pivot their business activities to preserve existing jobs, rather than simply focusing on farm liquidation and compensation. The fur sector has historically generated approximately 100 million euros in export revenue.