How to Find a New Job in Latvia: You Don't Have to Quit Your Old One 0 7

And when the fateful hour strikes, you may find yourself holding a certificate of professional competence. Perhaps even from partner organizations EURES – that is, the employment services of EU countries.

Up to the Times Ranking

You can now study, according to the revised rules from the Ministry of Welfare, for quite common professions – both for a tractor driver and even for educational programs included in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. Indeed, the maximum hourly wage provided by the state – 15.16 euros – has been abolished.

Also, those who received the desired coupon from GAZ can enroll in cool courses and even receive a scholarship, including for online studies. But in total, no more than 500 euros over 2 years.

The most important thing here is, of course, not to miss a single day of classes. Acceptable reasons for absence include:

• temporary incapacity for work;
• caring for a sick child;
• being summoned to an investigative agency, prosecutor's office, or court;
• death of a close relative of the first degree or spouse.

An important circumstance is the time of classes – as a rule, from 8 AM to 6 PM, with breaks. That is, a full working day makes it extremely difficult to combine with a side job.

Mentally Ill to Be Tested Practically

Some astonishment arises from comparing the aforementioned – albeit already abolished – maximum hourly rate of courses with the payments made to individuals who received training. "A disabled unemployed person undergoing a work trial is paid a stipend of 2.50 euros for each hour of the work trial." That is, for a day of work, our person with special needs can earn 20 euros...

"Especially individuals with mental disorders," the document notes, "cannot objectively assess the correspondence of their health condition and abilities to the proposed job. In many cases, an employment specialist from the agency cannot do this either, thus the most effective way... is to test them in practice," – such experiments on people are conducted by official fighters against unemployment.

Yes, it’s harsh. The Latvian Free Trade Union has even issued a special statement: "Establishing trial activities especially concerning persons with disabilities is discriminatory." But at least they have positively thought about the disabled – for example, they are provided with sign language interpretation for free.

How Far to the Workplace?

But if a person, unfortunately, lives in a different part of Latvia where there is work? Then, as they say, we are coming to you!

"Support for regional mobility of employed persons is a set of measures aimed at providing financial assistance to cover transportation costs and housing rent in the first four months after the start of legal employment relations," GAZ promises.

You can claim such assistance starting from a distance of 15 kilometers. The question, of course, is interesting – will residents of the Vecmilgravis area, employed in the Katlakalns neighborhood, which is 25 km apart, receive such support?

"Not in Demand in the Labor Market"

If we return to those who have not yet become "real" unemployed but are mentally preparing for the inevitable, let’s remember the sections of point 178 of the Rules, under which one can enroll in courses while still working:

• Previously obtained professional qualifications or work experience are not in demand in the labor market, or they do not meet the established requirements of the respective profession;
• Professional skills have been lost, as they have not worked in their profession for the last three years;
• There is no previously obtained professional qualification;
• They are working in a simple profession according to the ninth main group of the Classification of Professions;
• The necessity for training has been confirmed by the employer.

Additionally, individuals with disabilities (or intending to obtain this status) and those over 50 years of age are considered at risk of unemployment.

In the Languages of the Old World

Who pays – orders the music, and since the funds for our unemployed come through Brussels, they can receive training in the official languages of the EU, not just in the local state language.

It is understandable – Western countries benefit from obtaining qualified personnel from us, (re)trained at relatively low costs and speaking the employer's language.

"Mainly, clients of the Agency enhance their knowledge on internationally recognized platforms such as EdX, Coursera, Google, and Future Learn," the document from the Ministry of Welfare notes with satisfaction. However, in terms of output, the training is not that effective – for example, in driving schools, where future truck drivers or tractor drivers are trained, the success rate for passing exams is 60%.

"In practice, it is observed that clients lack educational platforms offering courses in the Latvian language, while the platforms in Latvia do not meet the requirements," the agency states. It would seem that this is where colleague Liana Lange should direct her considerable efforts! But – no.

And You Will Be Cured

A significant portion of Latvians remains outside the labor market due to their inherent dependencies. But here too, the state is accommodating to anyone willing to get their act together: "In accordance with the regulation of the Rules, clients of the Agency are provided with services from a narcologist, compensating expenses..."

A rehabilitated and refreshed job seeker can, by the way, obtain the necessary qualification through a coupon from GAZ right at the workplace – however, this does not apply to simple professions.

Moreover, what may particularly interest men, opportunities for informal education are offered... by the National Armed Forces. That is, one can learn a bit about shooting, lightly laying mines, and conducting coded radio communication. In any case, it will come in handy in life. Of course, for this, one must still be a citizen of the Republic of Latvia, the EU, or a separate, brotherly, fighting country.