Hour of Additional Payment: Latvian Budget Workers Promised Compensation – What to Do to Receive the Money 0 5

Size Matters

Champions can be recognized as medical workers and military personnel. The former are entitled to supplements of up to 50 percent of their monthly salary if the treating person replaces a colleague on leave or performs duties in a vacant position.

Military personnel can receive a bonus of 50% if they perform educational functions in addition to their official duties (military educational institution or adult education in the National Armed Forces unit). The same maximum additional rate applies to the staff of the Prison Administration.

Employees of security institutions can receive a 30 percent supplement if, in addition to their direct job responsibilities, they perform other functions.

A smaller supplement of 20 percent can be utilized by prosecutors and municipal officials.

Meanwhile, the Latvian Trade Union of Health and Social Care Workers pointed out that differentiated salaries did not affect an important category of employees – emergency medical service drivers, who are required to work at night, on weekends, and holidays.

Is the Savings Significant?

However, regarding the supplements for "achieving the strategic goals of the institution," which were limited to 30% since 2022, something vague is now written: "The individual amount, justification, and time period of the supplement, for which it is established, are determined by the head of the institution or an authorized official."

As a result, it is expected to save a total of — no less than — 34,049,581 euros. However, as stated in the Cabinet of Ministers document, there is no liquidation of any institution, nor is there any optimization or introduction of new initiatives.

The report also notes that supplements were introduced in the early 2020s to equalize the earnings of officials with those of private sector managers. The variable part of the salary was also increased for motivation.

It is worth noting that the new procedure does not affect bonus payments in state and municipal institutions and enterprises.