Karnite, Raita
2004 Annual Review for Latvia
20 heinäkuu 2005
2004 saw two changes of government. In April, a coalition led by Prime
Minister Einārs Repše of the centrist New Era party (Partija Jaunais Laiks,
JL) stepped down, to be replaced by a coalition led by Indulis Emsis of the
Green and Farmers Union (Zalo un Zemnieku savienība, ZZS). In December this
government was replaced by a coalition headed by Aigars Kalvītis of the
People’s Party (Tautas partija, TP) and also involving JL, the centre-right
Latvia First Party (Latvijas Pirmā Partija, LPP) and ZZS. The end of the
year saw preparations for municipal elections planned for March 2005.
Strike threats on the increase
04 heinäkuu 2005
Although wages are very low in Latvia and labour rights widely seen as being
neglected, strikes have been rare until now. However, on several occasions in
recent years, employees - notably teachers and healthcare workers - have
managed to obtain at least partial satisfaction of their demands through
strikes, and strikes are being more and more often considered as a means of
resolving labour conflicts.
Overtime - an economic necessity
27 kesäkuu 2005
Labour relations are regulated by the Satversme (Constitution) of the
Republic of Latvia, international laws binding on Latvia, the Labour Law and
other legislative acts, as well as collective agreements and internal
regulations. The Labour Law and other legislative acts that stipulate legal
labour relations are binding on all employers and employees when their mutual
relations are established under the employment contract.
Latvian builders’ misfortunes in Sweden continue
06 kesäkuu 2005
On November 2 2004 the Swedish Building Workers’ Union (Svenska
Byggnadsarbetareförbundet) started a boycott against the Latvian
construction firm Laval&Partneri Baltic Bygg, which had undertaken to build a
school near Waxholm, not far from Stockholm (LV0501101F [1]). Laval&Partneri
Baltic Bygg is a subsidiary of the Latvian firm Laval&Partneri, which was
established to fulfill contracts in Sweden but was subsequently restructured
as an independent company.
[1] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/articles/dispute-over-pay-of-latvian-building-workers-in-sweden
The State Police Staff Start Creation of a Trade Union
12 toukokuu 2005
The unfair attitude towards the police officers in the field of social
guarantees came to light when in 2004 several police officers filed
complaints with the Republic of Latvia Ministry of Interior on failure to
observe their social rights (LV0412101N [1]).
[1] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/articles/police-officers-seek-entitlement-to-benefits
Medical workers' pay protests accelerate reform of healthcare system
13 huhtikuu 2005
Reform of the Latvian healthcare system began in the second half of the 1990s
but has not been completed yet. Health insurance principles were introduced
into system in 1997, but it has not yet functioned as a truly insurance-based
system. The organisation of the healthcare system and its funding procedures
has been changed several times, but the effectiveness of these steps has
always been hampered by an overall lack of funding. Since doctors’ wages
throughout the system are low, the system's weak points have reportedly been
exploited in many ways to maximise the benefits obtained by individual
doctors, and this has distorted its effectiveness as a whole. Illegal income
sources and 'under the table' payments have been rife in the sector. Delays
in reforming healthcare have, according to experts, hindered the satisfactory
development of the sector and led to increasing dissatisfaction by both
patients and those working in the field. Successive governments have tried to
address objections from healthcare workers about low pay rates with promises
that reforms will soon be completed and healthcare funding will be improved,
but these have not been followed by action.
Trade unions will look after the employment rights of inhabitants of Latvia working abroad
31 maaliskuu 2005
On February 22 the Free Trade Union Confederation of Latvia (Latvijas Brīvo
Arodbiedrību savienība, LBAS) organized a discussion on the subject
/Movements of the Latvian workforce in the European Union - problems and
solutions/, involving representatives from unions, employers and state
institutions. The discussion was prompted by the fact that there has been an
increase in the number of Latvian workers traveling abroad since Latvia
joined the European Union. Many Latvian abroad are working in simple jobs and
are therefore losing their professional skills, meaning that state resources
that have gone into training these people are going to waste. Some are
working illegally.
Dispute over pay of Latvian building workers in Sweden
13 helmikuu 2005
A Latvian-based construction firm, Laval & Partneri, recently won a public
tender in Sweden through an open competition. The company obtained a contact
to build a school building in Vaxholm, not far from Stockholm, and to
participate in the construction of housing in Djursholm. The construction
work started in late 2004, and 14 Latvian building workers are involved.
Police officers seek entitlement to benefits
07 joulukuu 2004
The State Civil Service Law distinguishes between 'general' and 'specialised'
state civil service officials (LV0409104F [1]). Specialised state civil
service officials are defined as people performing the functions of officials
in: the Diplomatic and Consular Service; the State Revenue Service (Valsts
Ieņēmumu dienests, VID); the State Police (Valsts Policija); the Security
Police (Drošības policija); the Ministry of Interior Information
Technologies and Communications Centre (Iekšlietu ministrijas Informācijas
un sakaru departaments); the State Border Guard (Valsts Robežsardze); the
State Firefighting and Rescue Service (Valsts ugunsdzēsības un glābšanas
dienests, VUGD); the Prison Administration (Ieslodzījumu vietu pārvalde,
IeVP); and the State Forensic Expertise Bureau (Valsts tiesu ekspertīžu
birojs).
[1] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/articles/pay-determination-in-public-institutions
Museum staff seek higher pay
07 joulukuu 2004
A meeting was held in Riga on 19 October 2004, involving leading officials of
the Trade Union Federation for People Engaged in Cultural Activities
(Latvijas kultūras darbinieku arodbiedrību federācija, LKDAF) and its
member trade unions representing museum workers, to discuss the issue of
increasing the pay of museum specialists. A letter was drawn up and sent to:
the Minister of Culture, Helēna Demakova; the chairs of all parliamentary
parties; Jānis Strazdiņs, chair of the parliamentary education, culture and
science committee; Gundars Bērziņs, chair of the parliamentary budget and
finance committee; and Jevgenija Stalidzāne, chair of the parliamentary
social and employment issues committee.