Latvian workers report more occupational illnesses, but many stay silent

More people in Latvia are officially reporting health problems caused by their work, but many workers remain reluctant to seek help, LSM reported. The number of people whose occupational illness was recognised for the first time has almost doubled since 2016.

Doctors generally recognise an occupational illness only after a worker seeks an assessment, and patients often have several conditions rather than just one. One in five workers says they would not tell a doctor about a health problem because they fear losing their job. Others put up with their symptoms and pay for treatment themselves.

Ārija Krauze, a teacher in Valmiera, has spent 48 of her 52 working years in schools. Now a teacher’s assistant, she has hearing problems but has not registered them as an occupational illness and pays for her hearing aids herself.

Some workers are encouraged to seek recognition by the prospect of state compensation and covered rehabilitation. But many do not know what support is available, while others say doctors do not listen to them. The Latvian Trade Union Confederation says employers may see an occupational illness claim as a threat.

Officials attribute the increase in recognised cases to better record-keeping rather than more harmful working conditions. Other factors cited include greater awareness, people seeking medical help sooner, improved examinations, an ageing population and psychosocial factors. Officials and employers also describe a domino effect: when one worker in an industry has an illness recognised, colleagues may follow. A specialist said the recorded cases are only a small part of the iceberg.