Employment, Latvia, Legislation, Markets and Companies, Metals Market, Strike

Economics Minister Dana Reizniece-Ozola (ZZS) came outside to talk to the protesters and assured them that she understood their problems very well but that the government had to first figure out the management's plans for the company's future.

The minister also told the KVV Liepajas Metalurgs workers that the management's demand for cheaper electricity was unacceptable because the price they wanted to pay for electric power – EURR 45 per MWh – meant that the government would have to buy electricity for the metallurgical company. "We cannot promise such a discount on the electricity price," Reizniece-Ozola said.

Aivars Kesteris, an operator at the company's rolling-mill, told LETA that not all employees are currently working and that some of them, including him, are on furlough, although they are still being paid their hourly wages. Although initially they had been told that production has been halted until February 5, now it appears that the plant might resume operations on February 15.

Asked about causes of the company's troubles, Kesteris said that in his opinion they were brought about by the adverse situation in the global market and the utterly unsuccessful sell-off of KVV Liepajas Metalurgs.

The protest is meant to draw the government's attention to the situation at the company and in the metallurgical industry, and emphasize that the government needs to support the Liepaja company.

As reported, KVV Liepajas Metalurgs temporarily halted production on January 28.