We all want to earn at least enough to live, not just survive. To have enough for necessities and a little left for joy — after all, we exist not only for work.
However, the reality in Latvia is harsh for many: people work for salaries that are not enough even for basic needs. Years go by, joy decreases, and life turns into a vicious circle. Maria described similar emotions in her letter to the LA.LV portal. The woman writes:
"The topic of salaries in Latvia is painful for me. I seem to work in a good field — design, a decent position, project manager. But my salary has remained the same as it was 15 years ago — 1500 euros.
During this time, I have had two children, I have a car loan, and my husband, unfortunately, is not working. I have to pay for everything myself — it is incredibly hard.
At the end of each month, I stressfully count pennies, trying to stretch to payday — and it goes in circles. The employer cannot raise salaries due to high taxes, and the cost of projects is low because the company officially participates in open competitions to win.
Why do builders not pay VAT, while designers working in the same field have to give half of the contract amount in taxes?"
Leave a comment