LATVIA: NO REPORTS OF CHILD/FORCED LABOR IN THE PRODUCTION

UNCLAS RIGA 000023 SIPDIS DEPT PLEASE PASS TO DOL/ILAB FOR LEYLA STROTKAMP, RACHEL RIGBY AND TINA MCCARTER DEPT PLEASE PASS TO DRL/ILCSR FOR SARAH MORGAN AND G/TIP FOR LUIS CDEBACA E.O. 12958:N/A TAGS: ELAB EIND ETRD KTIP PHUM SOCI USAID LG SUBJECT: LATVIA: NO REPORTS OF CHILD/FORCED LABOR IN THE PRODUCTION OF GOODS REF: A. SECSTATE 131997 ¶1. The Embassy reached out to a range of nongovernmental organizations (Safe Home, Dardedze Center for Abused Children, Crises Center Skalbes, Resource Center for Women Marta),the local office of the International Organization for Migration, the State Inspectorate for the Protection of Children's Rights, and the Labor Department at the Ministry of Welfare to inquire if there have been any reports of child labor or forced labor in the production of goods. Our contacts reported no instances of child labor or forced labor in the production of goods in Latvia. ¶2. The law and policies protect children from exploitation in the workplace, including policies regarding acceptable working conditions, and the government generally implemented these laws and policies in practice. The law restricts employment of those under the age of 18 by prohibiting night-shift or overtime work. The statutory minimum age for employment is 15, although children who are 13 or older may work in certain jobs outside of school hours with written permission from a parent. Inspectors from the Ministry of Welfare's State Labor Inspectorate are responsible for enforcing the child labor laws, and they did so effectively.