The number of registered unemployed has increased from 52,321 at the end of 2007 and 76,435 at the end of 2008 to more than 132,000 at the end of July 2009. In response to this, Latvia extended its unemployment benefit by 9 months. In September 2009, it also launched an emergency public works programme to cover 30,000 unemployed workers, which will stop at the end 2010. Other responses like training for unemployed persons and job-seekers, subsidized employment for those in the least favourable situation (like people with disabilities and in pre-retirement age), support for business start-ups will be continued. Equally Latvia, has also taken some restrictive measures. For instance, from the 1.07.2009 until 31.12.2012, public old-age and length-of-service pension benefits will be decreased by 10 percent, while working and self-employed pensioners should receive only 30 percent of the calculated benefits.

Sources

ISSA, (July, 2009). Response to the ISSA Social Security at Times of Crisis survey: Latvian State Social Insurance Agency .

Ministry of Welfare of Latvia, http://www.lm.gov.lv/text/539; http://www.lm.gov.lv/news/id/1213;

European Industrial Relations Observatory Online; http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/eiro/2009/06/articles/lv0906029i.htm

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