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.

• 130, 678 signatures collected from 1 November to 28 November for support of the Constitutional amendments granting Russian language status of state language in Latvia
• Unity met with well-known representatives of ethnic minorities
• Latvijas Avize prints an article about usage of foreign languages at work

According to the Central Elections Committee, 130, 678 persons signed for support of the Constitutional amendments granting Russian language status of state language in Latvia from 1 November to 28 November. In order to submit the draft amendments to the Saeima it is required to collect at least 154,379 signatures. If the Saeima refuses the draft amendments national referendum will be initiated. The collection of signatures ends today.

According to the Central Elections Committee, 130, 678 persons signed for support of the Constitutional amendments granting Russian language status of state language in Latvia from 1 November to 28 November. In order to submit the draft amendments to the Saeima it is required to collect at least 154,379 signatures. If the Saeima refuses the draft amendments national referendum will be initiated. The collection of signatures ends today. Neatkariga, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize

Vesti Segodnya reports about a meeting of the members of political party Unity with well-known representatives of ethnic minorities. Members of the Unity met with writer and publicist Marija Kostenecka, entrepreneur and professor Ilja Gercikovs, and political scientist Marija Golubeva. According to a member of the party, MP Andrejs Judins the meeting was held in order to show that the Unity wants to start a serious dialogue with Russian speaking residents. Marija Kostenecka informs the newspaper that she said to the politicians that the truth is that authorities for 20 years spat in the face of Russian speaking residents of Latvia. According to Mrs Kostenecka, no one ever said thank you to those ethnic Russians who stood together with ethnic Latvians at the barricades in 1991 and supported the restoration of Latvias independence. Instead of that the society got divided into citizens and non-citizens. Mrs Kostenecka believes that growth of ethnic tensions today is a consequence of the fact that the Concord Centre was not included in the governing coalition. Mrs Kostenecka also believes that it is not late to start the dialogue with ethnic minorities, however, it will not be possible without respectful attitude towards them. Mr Ilja Gercikovs, in his turn, said to the members of the Unity that Latvian language should remain the only state language in the country, however, it is humiliating for Russians speakers that Russian has status of foreign language in Latvia. Mr Gercikovs believes that Russian should become official language of communication with local councils and municipal services in the regions of densely populated by Russians speakers.

Latvijas Avize prints an article about usage of foreign languages at work. According to employers and employees interviewed by the newspaper, proficiency in Russian language is considered as self-evident for fulfilment of work duties, especially in communication with clients and colleagues. As reported, the nationalists union All for Latvia!-FF/LNIM furthers the draft amendments to the Labour Law which forbid the employers to demand for foreign language proficiency if it is not obligatory required for fulfilment of work duties. The Latvian Employers Confederation and the Ministry of Welfare do not support such amendments. According to a representative of the Ministry, such regulations might harm Latvian market by pushing away foreign employers. Besides, the Ministry does not have information about the real facts of linguistic discrimination in labour market.