Background information

Taking into account the risks caused by COVID-19 and the declared emergency situation in Latvia, the Ministry of Welfare developed an amendment to the law On Unemployment Insurance to provide support to persons who, after the end of unemployment benefit period still have not found a job and are not engaged in economic activity.

The amendment was approved by the Parliament on 24 March 2020.

Content of measure

A person whose unemployment benefit payment period ends on or after 12 March 2020 and who continues to be unemployed due to the circumstances of the declared emergency in the event of the spread of COVID-19 may claim assistance benefit for unemployed. The benefit is is granted from the first day after period of payment of unemployment benefit. The amount of unemployment benefit is €180 per month.

The period for the benefit initially was four months, but later, in November 2020, it was extended to six months. The benefit is paid by the State Social Insurance agency.

People receiving insurance compensation, state pension (including disability pension), retirement pension or monthly compensation for the unemployed for performing paid temporary public works are not eligible for assistance benefit for unemployed.

Use of measure

The number of people receiving benefit by month:

• May 2020 - 901
• June 2020 - 2,018
• July 2020 - 3,140
• August 2020 - 4,247
• September 2020 - 4,840
• October 2020 - 5,552
• November 2020 - 5,627
• December 2020 - 5,934

In total 2020 - 10,546

• January 2021 - 7,188
• February 2021 - 8,346
• March 2021 - 8,216
• April 2021 - 9,154
• May 2021 - 11,582
• June 2021 - 10,847
• July 2021 - 9,246
• August 2021 - 47

SSIA has paid out €15.9 million.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Unemployed	Does not apply to businesses	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government Social insurance Public support service providers	National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Informed	Informed
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Unknown
• Main level of involvement: Unknown

Involvement

Normally peak level social partners by institutional setting are informed on all changes in legislation. Specific involvement for this measure is not reported.

Views and reactions

No specific views to report.

Sources

• 01 April 2021: Assistance benefit for unemployed is prolonged (lvportals.lv)
• 26 April 2021: The law On Unemployment Insurance (likumi.lv)