Latvian Welfare Minister Uldis Augulis (Latvian Alliance of the Green Party and Farmers Union, ZZS) declared in an interview on Latvian Public Television this morning that there are some 15,000 young people aged 15-26 who are currently neither studying, nor working in the labour market.
“We need to use the labour force here in Latvia as much as possible,” the minister said, adding that it is also necessary to think about who will do the work in future. Mr Augulis said that he would like to see people in Latvia being able to support themselves and their country.
The minister also insisted that it is necessary to boost the birthrate in Latvia, because in recent years, despite state support, it has always declined.
Commenting on his recent suggestion that the length of parental leave after a child is born might be reduced, Minister Augulis insisted that his was simply a hypothetical idea about childcare allowances, but never once had he actually thought about cutting the duration of parental leave.
“This was a hypothetical process in which we brainstormed so as to figure out how to improve the demographic situation,” he said.
The minister added that the government is planning to provide increased support for parents with children in next year’s 2025 national budget.
Source: BNS
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