EU – Baltic States, Labour-market, Latvia, Legislation, Markets and Companies

Photo: flickr.com

During the conversation, Zanda Kalnina-Lukasevica pointed out that, in regard to gender equality, Latvia has consistently ranked among the top fifteen countries in the world. This is confirmed by the annual World Economic Forum survey, “The Global Gender Gap Report 2014”. Latvia has the highest proportion of women (over 40%) in senior business positions amongst EU countries. Women in Latvia are also broadly represented in high-ranking positions in public administration.

Latvia’s Parliamentary State Secretary for EU Affairs pointed out that women in Latvia are able to build successful careers in politics, business, creative industries, while at the same time being good mothers and combining care for their families with professional duties and studies. Out of three highest ranking public positions in the country, two are currently held by women – those of Prime Minister and Speaker of the Parliament. Women in Latvia have indeed shown that gender equality is possible. On the other hand, full equality has neither been reached in terms of equal pay nor in terms of representation in certain professions and sectors of business.

Zanda Kalnina-Lukasevica confirmed that gender equality is also a priority for Latvia’s Presidency in the area of development cooperation, and special focus will be placed on this question in UN discussions on the new post-2015 development goals. The Parliamentary State Secretary invited the FEMM Committee to take part in the conference organized by the Presidency and entitled “Post-2015 and Beijing+20: Women’s Economic Empowerment and Sustainable Development – the Synthesis for Success”, which will be taking place in Riga on 2 March.

The FEMM delegation has arrived in Riga to discuss the priorities of the Latvian Presidency. The delegation met with the Minister of Welfare, Uldis Augulis, members of the Saeima (the Latvian Parliament) and several NGOs. Tomorrow’s agenda includes visits to crisis centres in Riga.

The FEMM Committee is mainly responsible for fostering and protection women’s equality in the EU and the policy of equal opportunities, including promotion of equality between men and women in regard to their opportunities in the labour market.