Factsheet for measure
LV-2020-12/831
–
Updated
– measures in Latvia
Sickness leave paid by state in case of COVID-19 infection
Valsts apmaksā darba nespējas dienas COVID-19 saslimušajiem
Background information
In the view to contrast the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government approved some amendments to the law 'On Maternity and Sickness Insurance'. The purpose of the amendment is to support employers by establishing special arrangements for the payment of sickness benefits to face the 2020 health crisis. The law was amended on 20 March 2020, in force from 22 March 2020.
Content of measure
A person in sick leave since affected by COVID-19, or being in quarantine from 21 March to 30 June this year, will be granted with a paid sickness benefit for the period from the second day of incapacity for work. The sickness benefit will be granted in the amount of 80% of the beneficiary's average insurance contribution salary. Doctors prescribe sickness leave to people who have been diagnosed with the disease in the laboratory and to people who have been quarantined because they have been in contact with a COVID-19 patient.
If the illness is not related to COVID-19, the sick leaves are issued and paid according to the ordinary regulation. They are issued for the first 10 days of illness and paid for by the employer.
The procedure for issuing new sickness leave applies also to self-employed persons who have paid social contributions at least from the minimum wage, and thus is socially insured.
Updates
The following updates to this measure have been made after it came into effect.
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16 November 2020
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On 12 November 2020 the Government approved new amendments to the law On Maternity and Sickness Insurance. The amendments extends the period in which sickness benefit for COVID-19 sickness leave will be paid by state to 30 June 2021. The Government also ruled, that state will pay the benefit from the first day (previously from the second).
The benefit is also available for contact persons who are in quarantine and for carers of the child who is ill with COVID-19.
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Use of measure
No information to date.
Target groups
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Workers
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Businesses
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Citizens
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Applies to all workers
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Does not apply to businesses
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Does not apply to citizens
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Actors and funding
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Actors
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Funding
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National government
Social insurance
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National funds
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Social partners
Social partners' role in
designing the measure
and form of involvement:
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Trade unions
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Employers' organisations
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Role
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Agreed (outcome) incl. social partner initiative
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Agreed (outcome) incl. social partner initiative
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Form
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Any other form of consultation, institutionalised (as stable working groups or committees) or informal
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Any other form of consultation, institutionalised (as stable working groups or committees) or informal
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Social partners' role in the
implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:
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Social partners jointly
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Main level of involvement: Peak or cross-sectoral level
Involvement
On 17 March 2020, the social partners jointly issued statement calling for immediate payment in amount of 100% of sickness leave from the state budget.
Views and reactions
The social partner organisations indicated their full support for the government's measures to date and called on the Saeima, the government, the Bank of Latvia and other institutions to do their utmost to ensure that as many companies as possible survive the crisis.
Sources
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17 March 2020: LDDK un LBAS aicina steidzami nodrošināt darba nespējas lapu 100% apmaksu no valsts budžeta
(www.tvnet.lv)
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03 August 2020: Par maternitātes un slimības apdrošināšanu
(likumi.lv)
