Improved support for the unemployed and those at risk of...

LATVIA – Ministry of Welfare

In view of the general increase in transport costs and the situation on the rental market, support for the poor and low-income persons has been increased from 7 to 10 euros per day to cover transport costs and from 150 to 200 euros per month to cover rental costs. In this way, it is planned to facilitate the mobility of the unemployed to jobs and to turn to educational institutions to acquire the skills needed on the labour market.

This is stipulated by amendments to the Cabinet of Ministers’ resolution «Regulations on the organization and financing of measures of active employment and preventive measures to reduce unemployment and the principles of selection of the measures’ executors», adopted at a government meeting on Tuesday, 6 December.

On the other hand, in order to facilitate faster integration of persons with disabilities into the labour market, it is envisaged that unemployed persons with disabilities will be able to be involved in vocational aptitude measures regardless of the duration of unemployment.

It is also planned to promote the wider implementation of the measure «Training with an employer involving sector associations», as suggested by the sectors, by expanding the sectors in which training with an employer involving sector associations can be implemented.

The regulations also stipulate that unemployed persons and those at risk of unemployment will in future be able to take an unlimited number of courses for training on online course platforms, which has so far been a maximum of six courses in two years. However, an overall funding limit of €500 for courses over two years will remain in place. In order to promote flexibility, the minimum intensity of the training programme has also been reduced to 5 hours per week.

Data source: lm.gov.lv