Staff - Latvia

Updated 02/2011

Legal requirements

The Labour Law and the Law on Labour Disputes govern the legal aspects of employment in Latvia.

The Labour Law [221 KB]
The Law on Labour Disputes [58 KB]
The rights and obligations of the employer under the Labour Law
The employer’s rights and obligations in the field of job security

Unemployment matters are governed by the Support for Unemployed Persons and Persons Seeking Employment Law whereas the Labour Protection Law provides a legal framework for job security.

The Support for Unemployed Persons and Persons Seeking Employment Law [106 KB]
The Labour Protection Law [114 KB]
The State Labour Inspectorate

Applications for and the issue of work permits are governed by the Cabinet Regulations Regarding Work Permits for Third-country Nationals.

Regulations Regarding Work Permits for Third-country Nationals [69 KB]

Employment conditions

Working hours

The normal working day cannot exceed eight hours while the normal working week cannot exceed 40 hours. The law also provides for shorter working hours; cumulative working hours; shift work; overtime work and night work.

More about working hours

Determining working hours

Pay

The minimum monthly wage in 2011 is LVL 200, the minimum hourly rate is LVL 1.189.

More about pay
Principles of pay determination
The minimum wage
Information on the statutory minimum monthly wage
Information on average pay

Holidays

All employees are entitled to paid annual holidays. The holidays shall not be less than four calendar weeks, excluding public holidays (28 calendar days).

More about holidays
The right to rest periods

Contracts of employment

Employment should be based on a written contract of employment.

There are two types of contract of employment: one for an indefinite duration and one for a specified duration (no longer than three years). You may also enter into a collective agreement with your employer.

Entering into a contract of employment
More about collective agreements
The benefits of collective agreements for employees

Employing foreigner nationals

On the access of EU, EEA and Swiss citizens to the labour market

The Latvian labour market is open to all EU citizens.

More about the employment of EU and EEA citizens
More about the immigration of family members of EU and EEA citizens
Applying for an European Union permanent-resident status in the Republic of Latvia

Measures for generating employment and mitigating unemployment taken by the State Employment Agency apply to EU, EEA and Swiss citizens and their family members. Certain restrictions apply to third-country nationals.

On the access of third country nationals to the Latvian labour market

Foreign nationals may be employed in Latvia when issued with a work permit from the Republic of Latvia.

Employing foreigner nationals
Regulations Regarding Work Permits for Third-country Nationals [69 KB]
The issue of a work permit
The issue of a residence permit

There are minimum social rules to follow, especially about non-discrimination, gender equality and health and safety.

Staff welfare — Latvia

Administrative procedures

Starting and ending employment

Authorisation of a work permit application:

The State Employment Agency
Registering, recording and filling vacancies

Payment of unemployment benefits:

The State Revenue Service
The State Social Insurance Agency
Granting of unemployment status and registration of unemployed individuals
Granting of job-seeker status and registration of job seekers
Further information on job seeking
Further information on social security benefits

Work permits for foreign workers:

The Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs

Resources

General issues related to employment:

The Ministry of Welfare
The State Labour Inspectorate

EURES, the European job portal, offers employers information and support on recruiting across the EU. As well as assisting jobseekers, it helps entrepreneurs find workers from across the EU. In border regions, EURES provides information on cross-border commuting and helps workers and employers with problems that may arise.

Check also the legislation on this topic in:

Staff - Latvia