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.

On 19 May 2022 Section 7.1 Compensation for the accommodation of Ukrainian Civilians were included in the law.

Content of measure

Households may receive compensation for Ukrainian refugees accommodated in their home free of charge for a period of up to 90 days. The amount of compensation is €100 per month for the first person accommodated and €50 per month for each additional person accommodated. The compensation can not exceed €300 per month for persons admitted to one dwelling or address.

Households should provide refugees with both accommodation and, where possible, hygiene items and food, as well as educational and entertainment or recreational activities and other support measures.

The compensation will be paid for a period of up to 90 days from the date indicated in the application, but not earlier than 1 May 2022.

The planned state budget funding for the support mechanism is €937,500.

Use of measure

According to the reports submitted by the municipalities to the Ministry of Economy on reimbursable costs in the 1st quarter of 2023, out of the total expenditure on accommodation of €1.3 million, €255,600 (approximately 19%) is spent on reimbursements to natural or legal persons who accommodate one or more Ukrainian civilians free of charge in a dwelling owned by them.

The capital city of Riga, where almost half of the refugees reside, also gives an idea of the use of the measure. Between May and December, reimbursement for voluntary accommodation was granted 910 times, resulting in 2,066 refugees accommodated for four months.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Does not apply to businesses	Migrants or refugees

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government	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:

• 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.

Sources

• 22 April 2022: The NTSP meeting discusses the impact of the war in Ukraine on Latvia's economic situation (lvportals.lv)
• 19 May 2022: Financial support is available for residents who accommodate Ukrainian civilians free of charge (lvportals.lv)
• 23 May 2022: Law on Assistance to Ukrainian Civilians (likumi.lv)
• 03 June 2023: Law on Assistance to Ukrainian Civilians (valid from 3 June 2023 (likumi.lv)