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.

• The Cabinet of Ministers enlarged state language requirements in employment

Yesterday the Cabinet of Ministers has approved amendments to the Regulations Nr.296, enlarging the list of posts and professions which require different levels of obligatory Latvian language proficiency. The new requirements are applicable to private sphere. Among nearly 1300 posts and professions included into the list are titles of director, aircraft designer and engineer, but also locksmith, housemaid, photographer as well as officer-on-duty of dump-site. According to

Yesterday the Cabinet of Ministers has approved amendments to the Regulations Nr.296, enlarging the list of posts and professions which require different levels of obligatory Latvian language proficiency. The new requirements are applicable to private sphere. Among nearly 1300 posts and professions included into the list are titles of director, aircraft designer and engineer, but also locksmith, housemaid, photographer as well as officer-on-duty of dump-site. According to Latvijas Avize, the Prime Minister suggested that representatives of some professions could effectively avoid these requirements by clearly defining in employment contract whether communication to the public is part of their professional duties. Chas expresses concern that adoption of the new regulations was driven by desire to ensure advantage to native speakers of Latvian on the doorstep of growing unemployment. According to Latvijas Avize, General Director the Employers Confederation of Latvia (LDDK) objected to new requirements, alleging that the list of professions is very extensive, language regulations should be proportionate, while imposition of language requirements on directors in private sphere is going against the principle of attracting foreign investment and someone like Bill Gates could not be employed in Latvia.

Latvijas Avize, Chas