The Council of the Latvian Health and Social Care Workers’ Trade Union (LVSADA) has decided to maintain its demand for pay increases for all healthcare workers in the 2027 state budget, organise a protest outside the Cabinet of Ministers and call for the resignation of Health Minister Hosams Abu Meri (JV).
LVSADA has once again approached the Ministry of Health, drawing attention to insufficient pay, staff shortages and excessive workloads. The trade union is demanding that the 2027 state budget provide for a pay increase of at least 30% for all healthcare workers, with the necessary funding incorporated into tariffs for state-funded healthcare services.
The union has also called for a review of Cabinet regulations governing minimum monthly salaries and special allowances for healthcare workers, as well as the introduction of a mechanism for regular pay reviews.
In September, the Ministry of Health informed the trade union that 228.7 million euros would be needed to raise salaries by 25.4%. Participants in the meeting acknowledged the seriousness of the situation, but no decision was taken on allocating the necessary funding,
nor was a plan for further action or a deadline for a decision established.
A draft Cabinet response concerning the 2027 state budget acknowledges that the healthcare sector requires an additional 663 million euros in funding, but identifies a need for only 45.2 million euros for human resources. The draft does not specify how much funding will actually be allocated, LVSADA noted.
The Council has also decided to organise a protest in the form of a picket outside the Cabinet of Ministers, in accordance with the requirements of the Law on Meetings, Processions and Pickets.
The LVSADA Bureau has been tasked with preparing and formally registering the protest, identifying potential participants, informing LVSADA trade union organisations and members, and inviting cooperation partners, other trade unions, healthcare professional organisations and patient organisations to participate.
At the same time,
the LVSADA Council decided to express no confidence in Health Minister Abu Meri and demand his resignation,
citing his failure to secure a concrete, sufficient and financially backed government decision to address the crisis in healthcare.
The LVSADA Council’s decision notes that the target set in Latvia’s Public Health Guidelines for 2021–2027 – for public healthcare funding to reach 6% of GDP by 2027 – will not be achieved. The annual indexation of target salaries for medical professionals in line with wage growth in the country, as envisaged in the guidelines, has also not been introduced.
If the government fails to adopt concrete and financially backed decisions on healthcare funding and salary increases for all employees in the sector, the LVSADA Bureau has been instructed to convene an extraordinary Council meeting to decide on further measures for the collective protection of workers’ interests provided for under Latvian law.
At the LVSADA Council meeting, trade union chair Līga Bāriņa said there had been no significant changes in the sector since 2021. She also criticised communication with the Health Minister, pointing to difficulties in establishing a meaningful dialogue on the sector’s problems and the solutions required.
The trade union does not believe that the minister has done everything in his power
to defend the interests of the healthcare sector.
Bāriņa also said that opportunities to express views on issues of major importance to the healthcare sector during government meetings have been limited, making it more difficult for social partners to participate fully in the decision-making process.
LVSADA points out that the European Commission’s report on Latvia this year identified insufficient public funding for healthcare and significant shortages of healthcare professionals.
Latvia has 3.4 doctors and 4.2 nurses per 1,000 inhabitants, compared with EU averages of 4.3 doctors and 7.6 nurses respectively. In addition, more than 40% of doctors and nurses in Latvia are aged 55 or older.
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