The Ultimate Guide to Hiring Employees in Latvia

Employees with at least six consecutive months of employment in this jurisdiction are guaranteed a minimum of 20 days of annual paid leave, which excludes public holidays, subject to the following details:

• They can take their annual leave in segments, but one part must consist of at least two uninterrupted weeks.
• Additionally, with a written agreement, employees have the option to carry over up to two weeks of unused leave to the following year.

Pregnant employees are eligible for 140 days of paid maternity leave, subject to the following details:

• Employees are required to take a mandatory 56-day leave before the child's birth and an additional 56 days after the child's arrival.
• This can be extended to 70 days before birth if employee registers their pregnancy with a doctor by the 12th week and 70 days after birth in certain situations, such as experiencing health complications during pregnancy, childbirth, or postpartum, or having multiple births.
• During this period, the employee will receive 80% of their average salary, and payment will be administered by the State Social Security Agency (SSA).
• The employee has the option to prolong the leave through parental leave.

Employees may take up to 10 working days of paid paternity leave, with the following conditions:

• During this period, the employee will receive 80% of their average salary, with payment administered by the State Social Security Agency (SSA).
• Leave is granted immediately after the birth of the child, but must be taken no later than 6 months past the birth of the child.
• The employee has the option to extend the leave through parental leave.

In Latvia, there is provision for paid sick leave with the following conditions:

• The initial sick day is unpaid.
• The employer covers days two to three at 75% of the salary and days four to ten at 80% of the salary.
• Starting from the 11th day, sick pay is provided by the state.

Parents have the choice between two paid leave packages: a 13-month option or a 19-month option, each with specific terms:

• Under the 13-month option, employees receive 60% of their regular salary. The basic period spans 9 months and can be taken by one parent until the child is one year old. Subsequently, each parent must take a minimum of 2 months of parental leave before the child turns 8 years old. This portion cannot be transferred to the other parent.
• With the 19-month option, employees receive 43.75% of their regular salary. The basic period lasts for 15 months and can be taken by one parent until the child is one and a half years old. Subsequently, each parent must take a minimum of 2 months of parental leave before the child turns 8 years old. This portion cannot be transferred to the other parent.
• The recipient of the parents’ benefit, who resumes work, discontinuing the parental leave, or resumes earning income as a self-employed, the benefit is paid in the amount of 30% of the benefit granted.