Integration monitor
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.
marts 28, 2009
- Vesti Segodnya reports that about half of Russian speaking bus drivers of municipal enterprise Rigas Satiksme might be fired due to new Latvian language proficiency requirements
- Consultative council of the Ministry of Interior is elaborating new rules stipulating lowering state language proficiency requirement for security guards
Vesti Segodnya reports that about half of Russian speaking bus drivers of municipal enterprise Rigas Satiksme might be fired due to new Latvian language proficiency requirements. According to a bus driver interviewed by the newspaper, while majority of Russian speaking bus drivers have the 1st category of the state language proficiency certificates (required by previous regulations), the new rules require the 2nd category. The enterprise did not provide language training, while employees willing to pass new language exams are not able to do it because the examination commissions are hardly available due to budget cuts. Without the 2nd category bus drivers are faced with fines and dismissals. According to the bus driver, a number of experienced bus drivers already were forced to vacate their jobs due to this obstacle.
Vesti Segodnya reports that a consultative council of the Ministry of Interior (which includes trade union of workers of security guard companies) is elaborating new rules stipulating lowering state language proficiency requirement for security guards. As reported, presently, security guard candidates should have 2nd category of the state language proficiency certificate and the examination on professional skills can be taken only in Latvian language.