Integration monitor is a daily Latvian press digest on ethnic minority and society integration issues. The Monitor reviews the biggest Latvian dailies: Diena, Latvijas Avize, Neatkariga (in Latvian language), Vesti Segodnya (in Russian language). In specific cases other information sources are used. Latvian Centre for Human Rights is not responsible for information published by the media.

• Newspapers report about influx of asylum seekers to Latvia
• Saeimas Committee following objections of the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other employers decided to revise the draft amendments to the Labour Law regarding the prohibition to require unreasonable foreign language proficiency from employees

Vesti Segodnya reports about growing influx of number of asylum seekers and illegal immigrants to Latvia. According to the head of the State Border Guard Service Normunds Gabars, the majority of illegal immigrants arrive with fake documents and use Latvia as a transit country to other European countries. The majority of illegals ask for asylum in Latvia and stay in the country until the decision on their status. Neatkariga also prints an article about asylum seekers and possible engagement of the country in allocation of refugees from other European countries.

The Saeima’s Social and Labour Affairs Committee following objections of the Latvian Chamber of Trade and Industry and other employers decided to revise before the final reading the draft amendments to the Labour Law regarding the prohibition to require unreasonable foreign language proficiency from employees. The draft amendments stipulating that employers are not allowed to require proficiency of a foreign language if it has no direct connection with employee’s job duties got approved in two readings in the Saeima.  The Saeima’s Committee decided to establish a working group on revision of the amendments. Authors of the draft amendments, members of the nationalists’ union All for Latvia!-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM believe that ethnic Latvians with poor Russian language proficiency are being discriminating in the Latvian labour market.

The Saeimas Social and Labour Affairs Committee following objections of the Latvian Chamber of Trade and Industry and other employers decided to revise before the final reading the draft amendments to the Labour Law regarding the prohibition to require unreasonable foreign language proficiency from employees. The draft amendments stipulating that employers are not allowed to require proficiency of a foreign language if it has no direct connection with employees job duties got approved in two readings in the Saeima. The Saeimas Committee decided to establish a working group on revision of the amendments. Authors of the draft amendments, members of the nationalists union All for Latvia!-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM believe that ethnic Latvians with poor Russian language proficiency are being discriminating in the Latvian labour market. Latvijas Avize