Labour market indicators

Unemployment rate in 2001: 12.8% (ILO data)

Working population:

Employment by sector:

Employment contracts
Employment contracts are regulated by law and to a lesser degree by collective agreements.
The terms of employment contracts are very rigid.

Salaries

National monthly minimum wage as of 01/01/03: 116 euros

Average wage for a employee in the manufacturing industry in 2004: 176.36 lats by  month (ILO data)

Social security contributions

Employer: 26.09 %.

Employee: 9 %.

Number of hours

Legal definition of full time work (per week): 40 hours

Retirement age: 55 for women and 60 for men.

Unions

Average rate of union membership:50 %.

Unions: N/A.

Useful links

For further informations on the labour market, check out the following web sites:

- International Labour Organization (ILO): studies, statistics and reports on working conditions and labour markets

- NATLEX : ILO database on national labour laws