Latvia human rights and wage fairness concerns

Human rights defender Karina Palkova has highlighted significant challenges within the Latvian state administration, noting that more than 5,000 children have ended up in out-of-family care. Palkova expressed concerns regarding bureaucratic hurdles and a lack of accountability among officials, stating that excessive coordination processes often prevent timely solutions to urgent issues.

Separately, a Norstat survey reveals that 28% of the Latvian population considers their workplace compensation system unfair. Among active employees, 34% view their pay structures as unjust. The study found that perceived unfairness is linked to lower income levels rather than gender, with 35% of lower-earning individuals reporting discrimination. While 44% of respondents view their compensation as fair, significant pay gaps persist across various sectors, including arts and entertainment (35.1%), healthcare and social care (30.5%), and finance and insurance (29.5%).