Returnees say Latvian bureaucracy is hard to understand

People who were born abroad often struggle to understand Latvia’s bureaucracy after returning to live in the country, LSM reported following a forum on diaspora return and entrepreneurship held in London.

The forum at the Daugava Vanagi Foundation building brought together Latvian diaspora activists, representatives of organisations, lecturers from Latvia and people who had returned to the country. A significant part of the event focused on returning to Latvia, with participants sharing their experiences in person and remotely.

Entrepreneur Vineta Zālīte said she had worked in England for 20 years before moving to Latvia, where she started her own business with grant support from Riga and Ropaži municipalities.

Not all returnees, however, have had successful experiences. Some abandoned plans to return after failing to find work in Latvia.

Gita Robalde, director of the Saulespuķe theatre troupe in Bradford, said she had been told that even 40-year-olds with master’s degrees could not find work in Latvia, and questioned how people approaching retirement age would be employed.

A representative of Latvia’s State Employment Agency said the situation was the opposite, arguing that many employers preferred older workers because they were more stable and reliable.

Returnees also identified bureaucracy as a problem. People who have never lived in Latvia may not realise, for example, that they need an employment tax booklet.