One of the functions municipal governments have is providing residents support to resolve social problems, as well as the option to receive social aid and social services. One important condition for this is having qualified public servants, says Latvian Minister of Welfare Evika Siliņa.
The minister stresses that information has been reported in the public space about Rezekne municipal council’s plans to reduce the number of public workers to save money for the municipal budget.
According to Siliņa asks – whose interests does Rezekne municipal council serve?
BNN previously reported that Rezekne municipal council lacks EUR 3 million in its budget to cover all costs. To save money, the municipal council plans to reduce the number of public workers, including in the Social Service.
It is planned to lay off 15 workers. However, some of the affected posts are already vacant, which means up to ten people could be laid off.
“Each municipality needs to have at least one social work specialist per 1 000 residents. In 2022 there were 26 481 residents in Rezekne and only 17 social workers and three social rehabilitation specialists. This means the requirement of the law is not met,” said Siliņa, adding that “the plan by Rezekne council to reduce the number of social workers is not only short-sighted, but also irresponsible”.
According to the minister, this action from the municipality is in contradiction of residents’ needs and general guidelines for social policy, which is intended to provide accessibility of social services to the least protected members of society.
“This crisis in the municipality will impact the least protected residents. It is the duty of the municipal council to resolve this,” stresses Siliņa.
The minister explains that human resources play the main role in providing quality social work and development of social services. At the same time, one of the priorities of the Ministry of Welfare is attracting, training, motivating and retaining workers in the social services sector.
The minister said Gunārs Arbidāns, the head of Rezekne Social Service, which provides long-term social care and social rehabilitation services, home care, daycare centre services, shelters and night shelter services, has publicly spoken about the lack of workers. He invited increasing the number of workers.
“However, because of Rezekne municipal council’s negligence, this city has ended up in financial difficulties and instead of increasing the number of workers, they plan to reduce them to optimise the budget. And it is clear – this is is a path towards inaccessible, low quality serve that will likely result in a social services crisis,” says Siliņa.
“It is unacceptable to reduce the number of workers in an already understaffed sector! I invite Rezekne municipal council, when deciding on an action plan to improve the financial situation of the city, to comply with the regulatory enactments and take care of a sufficient number of employees of the Social Service and the quality of work, because the investment in people is an investment in the growth of the municipality and the whole Latvia,” the minister concluded.
Also read: Latvian minister allows Rezekne municipality could be at risk of financial stabilisation procedure