LATVIA BANS DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT ON THE BASIS OF

UNCLAS RIGA 000885 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PGOV ELAB EUN LG SUBJECT: LATVIA BANS DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT ON THE BASIS OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION REF: RIGA 533 ¶1. Summary: Latvian President Vike-Freiberga has signed amendments to Latvia's Labor law adding sexual orientation to the categories of people protected from employment discrimination and the law takes effect October 25. The President had vetoed an earlier version of the law that omitted this group, contrary to EU decisions. End summary. ¶2. Reftel reported on the passage by the Latvian parliament of amendments to the labor law that failed to include sexual orientation as a protected category as required by EU directives and the subsequent veto by President Vike-Freiberga. On September 21, after a heated debate, the Latvian parliament (Saeima) voted 46-35-3 to adopt a revised draft that includes sexual orientation as one of the protected categories in employment. Many MPs who voted in favor of the provision privately admitted that they did not vote in accordance with their conviction, but wanted to avoid possible punitive action from the European Commission. ¶3. The president promulgated the revised law on October 11, and it takes effect on October 25. Under the final version of the legislation, equal treatment in employment should be provided for all residents, banning any direct or indirect discrimination on the grounds of "race, sex, age, disability, religious, political or other beliefs, national or social origin, material or family status or sexual orientation." BAILEY