1. NVA Services Labour Market Situation in Latvia Mr Maris Ginters 28 August 2008

2. Latvia and its Labour Market Falling unemployment, rising employment Unemployment: from 13,1% in 2001 to 5,1% in July 2008 Employment: from 58,6% in 2001 to 68,4% in 2007 Difficulties, spheres of development Regional differences (employment, economical activity) Intensive external mobility, underdeveloped internal mobility Difficulties for employers to compete with salaries in other EU countries Permanent interest about labour force from the third countries State area: 64 589 km², Population: 2 273 100 Capital city: Riga Regions: Kurzeme, Zemgale, Vidzeme, Latgale

3. Registered Unemployment - 5,1% (July 2008)

4. Key indicators of the Labour Market (%) LV 2003 LV 2004 LV 2005 LV 2006LV2007 EU 2006 EU 2010 Employment level (15-64) 61,862,363,366,368,364,470,0 Employment level Women (15-64) 57,958,559,362,464,457,260,0 Employment level elderly people (55-64) 44,147,949,553,357,743,550,0 Level of economic activity (15-64) 69,269,769,571,372,970,5- Unemployment rate (15-74) 10,510,48,96,86,07,9-

5. Involvement of Unemployed in Preventive and Active Labour Market Measures 2007 Long-term unemployed Youth Persons with disabilities Ex-convicts Persons after maternity leave U nemployed in p re- retirement age Vocational training 449858211931296 Informal education 967115038117557356 Measures to increase competitiveness 35106201195213233212276 Summer employment for pupils 7781133 Paid temporary works 55964294531681851 Subsidized employment 798460452461186 Acquisition of working skills 20 1239 Integrated Inclusion programme 42 Total 1134016899349218043351498

6. Facts about NVA NVA is an institution under the supervision of the Ministry of Welfare of the Republic of Latvia (founded on April 17, 1991) and works in accordance with the Public Agency Law. NVA implements state policy in the field of unemployment reduction and job seeker support. The NVA work is regulated by the Regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers No 425 “By-Law of the State Employment Agency” (July 29, 2003) Mission: to become a bridge connecting employers and employees reducing unemployment and stimulating employment in Latvia Functions: working with clients – employers, unemployed, job seekers; career counselling; international relations and EURES; provision of public awareness; improvement of the NVA services; European Social Fund; improvement of normative documents; capacity building; budget planning and control of financial expenditure Director: Ms. Baiba Paševica Structure: Central Office (6 Departments, 19 Divisions), 27 Local Employment Offices (25 Sectors) Staff: ~ 800 employees

7. NVA Structure

8. NVA Services to Employers Legal consultations Registration of vacancies and finding of suitable employees Training of unemployed Paid temporary works Work practice at an enterprise (Subsidized employment) Summer employment for pupils Work trials Integrated inclusion programme (pilot project) EURES services when looking for foreign workers (EU/EEA countries) Organization of a dialogue between employers and unemployed Approval of work invitations and harmonization of work-performance contracts (employment of third-country nationals)

9. NVA Services for Unemployed, Job-seekers, Employees For Unemployed: vocational training, retraining and measures of improvement of professional skills; support and motivation measures for raising of competitiveness, int. al. modular training; paid temporary works; information on vacancies free of charge; information about opportunities to work abroad (EURES). For Employees: support and motivation measures for raising of competitiveness, int. al. modular training; information on vacancies and information on rights and duties of unemployed and job-seekers (free of charge); information about opportunities to work abroad (EURES); Measures to facilitate a start-up of business activities and a self-employment

10. Development and implementation of flexible system of the NVA services; Development of efficient management system; Development of professional and motivated staff; Improvement of IT infrastructure and easy-to-use data bases; Development of efficient communication with society and clients; Development of employer-orientated policy; Provision of activity of ESF collaboration institutions for efficient financial administration. NVA strategic development areas (2008 – 2010)

11. Thank you for your time! Maris Ginters Maris.Ginters@nva.gov.lv