Employment and labor laws vary from country to country. This guide is intended to provide the most up to date information available. We will update this guide as needed when changes are made to the laws.
Employment Contracts
Employers are legally required to provide formal written contracts for all employees that include salary/wage, termination terms, job title, etc. The contracts must be written in Latvian and use the Euro currency (EUR).
Working Hours
The standard workweek in Latvia consists of 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week.
Overtime
Any work done above regular hours or on a public holiday is considered overtime and must also be mutually agreed upon prior to the commencement of any overtime work. Overtime hours are paid at a rate of 200.00% of the regular salary rate of pay.
Public Holidays
Public holidays that fall on the weekend are usually lost, with the exception of Army Day which moves to a Friday or Monday when falling on a Sunday.
The length of the working day immediately before a public holiday is reduced by 1 hour.
For the year 2024:
- 1 Jan: Monday – New Year’s Day
- 29 Mar: Friday – Good Friday
- 1 Apr: Monday – Easter Monday
- 1 May: Wednesday – Labor Day
- 4 May: Saturday – Independence Day
- 23 Jun: Sunday – Song and Dance Festival
- 24 Jun: Monday – Song and Dance Festival Holiday
- 18 Nov: Monday – Proclamation Day
- 24 Dec: Tuesday – Christmas Eve
- 25 Dec: Wednesday – Christmas Day
- 26 Dec: Thursday – Christmas Holiday
- 31 Dec: Tuesday – New Year’s Eve
Annual Leave (vacation)
Employees are entitled to annual leave if they have been employed for at least six consecutive months. Such leave may not be less than 20 days (four calendar weeks), not including public holidays. Employees under 18 years of age are entitled to annual paid leave of one month.
With the agreement of the employee and the employer, annual paid leave in the current year may be granted in parts, but one part of the leave in the current year shall not be fewer than two uninterrupted calendar weeks. With written agreement, up to 2 weeks of unused leave can carry over into the next calendar year only.
Sick Days
The first day of sickness is unpaid.
The employer pays day two & three at 75% salary and day four to 10 at 80% salary.
From day 11 onwards sick pay is compensated by the state.
Maternity and Paternity
Maternity Leave
The first part is paid for 56 or 70 calendar days of maternity leave. Benefits for 70 calendar days are paid if employees have been medically registered as pregnant up to the 12th week of pregnancy. The second part of the benefits is paid for 56 or 70 calendar days after the birth of the child. Benefits for 70 calendar days are paid if the employee has experienced health problems during pregnancy, birthing, in the post-natal period, or two or more babies have been born.
The longest period for which maternity benefits can be received is 140 calendar days.
Paternity Leave
Statutory paternity leave in Latvia is up to 10 days, which an employee should take within two months from the birth of a child.
Paternal Leave
Paternity benefits (paternitātes pabalsts) are granted to the child’s father and also granted to one of the two adopters of a child under 3 years.
For children born on or after 1 January 2023, the total duration of the parental benefit will be set in months counted from the date of birth. The total period of parental benefit will be made up of the basic and non-transferable parts of the parental benefit. The non-transferable part will be two months for each parent.
Parents shall be able to choose.
To receive the total benefit for the time period of 13 months from the day of the child’s birth:
- The basic 9-month portion must be used by one parent until the child is one year old. This 9-month period also includes the period of maternity allowance.
- The two-month non-transferable part can be used by the mother until the child reaches the age of eight.
- The father can use the two-month non-transferable part until the child reaches the age of eight.
- If you choose a period of 13 months, the amount of parental allowance is 60 % of the claimant’s average contributory salary.
(If you are not on parental leave and continue to work, you can get 50% of the basic amount of the parental benefit. The non-transferable part of the allowance can only be received if you are on parental leave or do not earn an income as a self-employed person).
Or
To receive the total benefit for the time period of 19 months from the day of the child’s birth:
- The basic 15-month allowance must be used by one parent until the child reaches the age of one-and-a-half years. This 15-month period also includes the period of maternity allowance.
- The mother can use the two-month non-transferable part until the child reaches the age of eight.
- The father can use the two-month non-transferable part until the child reaches the age of eight.
- If you choose a period of 19 months, the amount of parental allowance is 43.75 % of the claimant’s average contributory salary.
(If you are not on parental leave and continue to work, you can get 50 % of the basic parental allowance. The non-transferable part of the allowance can only be received while on parental leave or without income as a self-employed person).
Maternity and parental benefits for the same child cannot be received at the same time. If the mother of the child has been awarded maternity allowance, the parent will be able to receive the basic part of the parental allowance from the day after the end date of the maternity allowance. The amount of maternity benefit is 80% of the claimant’s average contribution salary.
Other Leave
There is no other statutory leave in Latvia.
Employee Severance and Terminations
Termination Process
Employers can terminate a fixed term contract by giving the following reasons – business, personal, or worker’s misconduct. It requires notice and a written explanation for the termination. If the reason is misconduct, a warning needs to be given and the employee gets a chance to explain their actions.
Notice Period
The statutory notice period must be at least one month. During the probation period notice is with 3 days written notice. .
Severance Pay
In Latvia, statutory severance pay is dependent on the length of service.
- One month pay for employees up to 5 years of service
- Two months’ pay for employees with between 5 and 10 years of service
- Three months’ salary for employees with 10 to 20 years
- Four months’ pay for employees with over 20 years of service
Probation Period
Under an indefinite employment contract probation leave is typically up to three months. However, within a collective agreement, parties can agree on a probationary period of more than three months but no more than six months without reducing the overall level of protection of employees.
Under a definite term contract it is possible to provide a probationary period of:
- Up to 1 (one) month for employment contracts for up to 6 (six) months
- Up to 2 (two) months for employment contracts for up to 1 (one) year
Payroll Cycle
In Latvia, the payroll frequency is generally monthly. However, the employer must make payment no less than twice a month unless the employee and employer have agreed on payment once a month.
The cabinet determines the minimum monthly salary in Latvia. The monthly minimum wage is 700 EUR.
13th Salary
There is no statutory requirement to provide a 13th salary.
Contributions
Employer Payroll Contributions
VISA
Latvian law provides many options for employers of foreign nationals. Latvia is a member of the European Union (EU) and the Schengen Area. Requirements, processing times, employment eligibility, and benefits for accompanying family members vary by visa classification.
Business visitors to Latvia typically use a local version of the Schengen C Visa, unless they are visa-exempt based on their nationality. The Schengen Area limits stay to 90 days within 180 days.
The main work authorization categories are the Residence Permit with Work Authorization, available to many foreign national workers.
The EU Blue Card is suitable for highly skilled, locally hired employees who meet a salary threshold. The (EU) Intracompany Transferee (ICT) Permit is available for intracompany transfers of managers, specialists, or trainees from outside the EU.
The application process always requires an in-country application with the Office of Migration and Citizenship Affairs (OCMA). If the intended stay is under 90 days, foreign nationals may also request a residence permit, thereby choosing between a visa and a residence permit.
VAT
The Standard rate of VAT in Latvia is 21.00%.