Financial Services, Latvia, Legislation, Wages

The initially proposed amendments stipulated state-covered healthcare services for about 30 retired border guards. The draft was supplemented with a motion submitted by the Finance Ministry's parliamentary secretary, MP Lolita Cigane (Unity), stipulating higher salaries for ministers.

Cigane had previously argued that the EUR 800 raise (after taxes) would "heighten remuneration for the responsibilities a Cabinet minister assumes, and give hope, that in confirming them in high office, we will be approving the respective sector's strategic leader, who will work with vision of the future, taking the necessary steps already today."

She added that by increasing salaries for ministers, Latvia would still not be on a par with Lithuania and Estonia.

Cigane said that net salary for the prime minister in July 2014 was EUR 1,945; EUR 1,757 – for Cabinet ministers; EUR 1,379 – for parliamentary secretaries. After increasing salaries for these posts, the prime minister's salary would be EUR 2,769, Cabinet ministers' – EUR 2,572, parliamentary secretaries' – EUR 1,634.