Factsheet for measure
LV-2022-19/2403
–
Updated
– measures in Latvia
Easing access to employment for Ukrainian refugees
Ukrainas bēgļu nodarbinātība
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.
The law determines how the employment of Ukrainian refugees will take place.
Content of measure
The law provides for the right of Ukrainian civilians to obtain a long-term visa with the right to employment without restrictions for up to one year. Employers employing Ukrainian citizens who have arrived in Latvia to flee the war do not have to meet several requirements that would normally be mandatory if the employee is a third-country national. Employers do not have to register the employer's vacancy with the State Employment Agency and do not have to ensure a wage not less than the average gross wage in Latvia in the previous year.
On 14 March 2022 the Law was amended with the norm that upon entering into employment, a Ukrainian civilian is entitled to a one-time allowance for start of the employment relationship. The amount of the allowance is one minimum wage which currently is €500. The amendments also stipulates that the employer is entitled to employ a Ukrainian civilian without the first compulsory medical examination for three months from the date of concluding the employment contract.
Updates
The following updates to this measure have been made after it came into effect.
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23 May 2023
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With this year's allocation for employment benefits for Ukrainian refugees almost exhausted by mid-May 2023, the government decided on 23 May to allocate an additional €1.24 million for this purpose, with a view to providing benefits to an additional 2,000 persons. This could be sufficient until October this year, the Welfare Ministry said.
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01 January 2023
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As of 1 January 2023, those Ukrainian civilians who apply for temporary protection status in the Republic of Latvia and have a document confirming this status will be issued a temporary residence permit for two years.
For those Ukrainian civilians who have received temporary protection status in the Republic of Latvia in 2022, long-term visas and temporary residence permits issued until 31 December 2022 will be valid until 4 March 2024, notwithstanding the validity period indicated in these documents.
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01 January 2023
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From 1 January 2023, the minimum wage, and therefore the benefit, in Latvia is €620.
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03 October 2022
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From 3 October 2022, the one time allowance for those who register as self employed is available in the same amount.
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Use of measure
On 30 April 2023, according to the data of the Ministry of the Interior, 42,894 temporary residence permits or visas have been issued to Ukrainian civilians since 24 February 2022, including 15,620 for men and 27,274 for women.
From the beginning of March 2022 until 15 May 2023, a total of 21,614 Ukrainian civilians were supported by the State Employment Agency (SEA) in their job search.
Until 15 May 2023, 11,859 Ukrainian civilians received the employment start-up allowance and 195 received the self-employment start-up allowance.
Target groups
Actors and funding
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Actors
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Funding
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National government
Public employment service
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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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Informed
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Informed
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Form
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Not applicable
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Not applicable
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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
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
On 28 February LDDK had a meeting with the Government. Minister of Welfare Gatis Eglītis provided information on the draft law “Law on Support of Civilians of Ukraine”. The Minister pointed out that it is important that the adopted law contains flexible conditions related to the announcement of a vacancy in the State Employment Agency (SEA), the average salary in the country, etc.
The LDDK emphasized that the employment conditions should be as similar as possible in cases where the employer employs Latvian residents, except for the requirements regarding the state language and the mandatory health examination. This would avoid additional administrative burdens and remove any restrictions on the employment of these people.
The LBAS has participated in the drafting and adoption of the ETUC Resolution on Ukraine. The LBAS supports employment of Ukrainian refugees, however stresses that it is very important for Ukrainian refugees to know their rights.
Sources
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28 February 2022: LDDK agrees with the responsible ministries on coordinated cooperation in support of Ukraine
(lddk.lv)
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14 March 2022: Legislative additional mechanisms to support the people of Ukraine
(lvportals.lv)
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23 March 2022: LBAS: ETUC Resolution on Ukraine
(arodbiedribas.lv)
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22 April 2022: The NTSP meeting discusses the impact of the war in Ukraine on Latvia's economic situation
(lvportals.lv)
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23 May 2022: Law on Assistance to Ukrainian Civilians
(likumi.lv)
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23 May 2023: Additional €1.24 million allocated for employment benefits for Ukrainian refugees
(www.lsm.lv)
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03 June 2023: Law on Assistance to Ukrainian Civilians (valid from 3 June 2023
(likumi.lv)
