• Chas reports about Thai guest workers employed in Latvia

Chas reports about Thai guest workers employed in Latvia. According to the representative of a recruiting company which deals with job placement of Thais in Latvia, the demand for Thai workers in Latvia is high. The representative of the company argues that import of Thais is profitable because they are silent, hard-working, reliable, and they are not looking for permanent residence in Latvia. The majority of Thais are employed in meat- and fish-processing, timber industry and clothing manufacture.

• FF/LNIM proposes to forbid persons with insufficient Latvian language proficiency from running for the Saeima elections
• ECRI calls upon Latvian governmental institutions to be more active in combating racism

Vesti Segodnya reports that the Saeimas faction For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM (FF/LNIM) has prepared the draft amendments to the Law on Saeima Elections according to which persons with Latvian language proficiency insufficient for execution of professional duties are forbidden from running for the elections.

The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) calls upon Latvian governmental institutions to be more active in combating racism. The ECRI recommends finding rapid and humane solutions for problem of large scale non-citizenship in Latvia.

The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) calls upon Latvian governmental institutions to be more active in combating racism. The ECRI recommends finding rapid and humane solutions for problem of large scale non-citizenship in Latvia. Latvijas Avize

• Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins: For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM strongly objects to granting non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections

The Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins has stated that the party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM strongly objects to granting non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections. Gaidis Berzins has stated that those who want to participate in social processes should naturalise.

The Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins has stated that the party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM strongly objects to granting non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections. Gaidis Berzins has stated that those who want to participate in social processes should naturalise. Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf

• Ministry of Education is planning to elaborate an educational program for new immigrants

At a meeting of the Saeima’s European Affairs Committee, the Minister of Education Tatjana Koke has stated that the Ministry of Education is planning to elaborate an educational programme for new immigrants – children of citizens from non-EU countries who have permanent residence permit in Latvia. The aim of the programme is to ensure equal opportunities to all residents of Latvia to receive state funded basic and general secondary education. V

At a meeting of the Saeimas European Affairs Committee, the Minister of Education Tatjana Koke has stated that the Ministry of Education is planning to elaborate an educational programme for new immigrants – children of citizens from non-EU countries who have permanent residence permit in Latvia. The aim of the programme is to ensure equal opportunities to all residents of Latvia to receive state funded basic and general secondary education. Vesti Segodnya

• Chas prints an interview with one of the authors of the shadow report on implementation of the Framework Convention for Protection of National Minorities in Latvia, the MP Boriss Cilevics
• Minister of Education Tatjana Koke has replied to an inquiry of the Saeimas faction For Human rights in United Latvia regarding minority schools and education
• European Commission against Racism and Intolerance recommends Latvia to grant non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections

Chas prints an interview with one of the authors of the shadow report on implementation of the Framework Convention for Protection of National Minorities in Latvia, the MP from the Saeimas faction The Concord Centre Boriss Cilevics. Mr. Cilevics has stated that the official governmental report which has been submitted to the Advisory Committee of the Council of Europe is incomplete and inaccurate. According to Mr. Cilevics, the shadow report stresses not only legislative acts but also factual situation in Latvia. Boriss Cilevics believes that various articles of the Framework Convention which are not implemented in Latvia because various legal norms and practices do not comply with requirements of the Convention. This mainly concerns usage of minority languages, distortion of non-Latvian names in accordance with Latvian grammar and education of ethnic minorities.

The Minister of Education Tatjana Koke has replied to an inquiry of the Saeima’s faction For Human rights in United Latvia regarding minority schools and education. According to the reply, about 30% of schools in Latvia are implementing education programs for ethnic minorities.   The Minister has stated that the reduction of the number of classes and the decrease of the number of students in Russian language schools is related to the general decrease of population of the country. The Minister has promised to support minority schools and promote education quality.

The Minister of Education Tatjana Koke has replied to an inquiry of the Saeimas faction For Human rights in United Latvia regarding minority schools and education. According to the reply, about 30% of schools in Latvia are implementing education programs for ethnic minorities. The Minister has stated that the reduction of the number of classes and the decrease of the number of students in Russian language schools is related to the general decrease of population of the country. The Minister has promised to support minority schools and promote education quality. Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya reports that yesterday, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance has publicised a report on the situation in Latvia during the past 5 years. The Commission criticizes the existing differences in rights of Latvian citizens and non-citizens and again recommends Latvian government to grant non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections.