Background information

On 3 March 2022, the Latvian Parliament Saeima adopted the Law on Assistance to Ukrainian Civilians. The purpose of the Law is to provide assistance to Ukrainian civilians who leave Ukraine or who cannot return to Ukraine due to the armed conflict caused by the Russian Federation. The assistance specified in the Law is provided during the course of the armed conflict. Since it was introduced, the Law has been amended several times.

Amendments of 14 March 2022 included in the law reduced requirements for Ukrainian refugees to work as a taxi driver.

Content of measure

The law includes a provision that the registration of a resident of Ukraine in the register of taxi drivers as a person entitled to drive a vehicle in commercial passenger transport by taxi or commercial passenger transport by car does not require knowledge of the official language, as well as the obligation to prove that a ban on the right to drive has not been registered for a person if the driving license has been issued abroad.

In order for Ukrainian civilians to register with the Taxi Driver Register, a copy of a residence permit or long-stay visa with the right to employment without restrictions for up to one year, a copy of a driver's license and a photograph of a driver must be submitted.

Use of measure

According to the information provided by the Road Transport Directorate, 16 Ukrainian citizens have registered in the Register of Taxi Drivers by 22 April.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Migrants or refugees in employment	Does not apply to businesses	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government	No special funding required

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:

• Social partners jointly
• Main level of involvement: Peak or cross-sectoral level

Involvement

Both peak level social partner organisations, the Employers’ Confederation of Latvia (LDDK) and the Free Trade Union Confederation of Latvia (LBAS) are actively involved in providing assistance to Ukraine and Ukrainian refugees in different forms. Regarding Government’s actions, both organisations have expressed their support. As usual, regarding changes in legislation, social partners are at least informed, often consulted and agreed on outcome.

On April 21, a meeting of the National Tripartite Cooperation Council (NTSP) took place, where the government and its social partners - LBAS and LDDK discussed the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent sanctions imposed on Russia on the Latvian economy and the well-being of the Latvian population.

Views and reactions

No specific views to report.

Sectors and occupations

Sources

• 14 March 2022: Legislative additional mechanisms to support the people of Ukraine (lvportals.lv)
• 22 April 2022: The NTSP meeting discusses the impact of the war in Ukraine on Latvia's economic situation (lvportals.lv)
• 28 April 2022: Support for transport and communications sectors for Ukrainian refugees (www.atd.lv)
• 23 May 2022: Law on Assistance to Ukrainian Civilians (likumi.lv)