On Thursday, 24 March, the Saeima adopted in the second and final reading urgent amendments to the Law on the Support for Ukrainian civilians. Among other provisions, the amendments stipulate allocation of a one-time crisis allowance to Ukrainian civilians fleeing the war in the amount of 272 euros for adults and 190 euros for each child.
As stated in the summary of the Draft Law, a state-wide allowance amount must be established in order to allow municipal social services to provide quick and effective support for Ukrainian civilians. This will allow the purchase of the necessary products, such as clothes, hygiene and household goods, or paying the first month’s rent.
Additionally, the Ukrainian civilians fleeing the war are entitled to the childbirth allowance, child care benefit, and state family benefit. According to the amendments, Ukrainian civilians are a social group at the risk of social exclusion within the meaning of the Social Enterprise Law.
In order to ensure their right to start work immediately, the amendments establish that Ukrainians in possession of a travel document issued in Ukraine have the right to enter into an employment relationship without receiving a long-stay visa with a work permit, but the period of such right shall not exceed 30 days. In this case, a citizen of Ukraine that has begun working in Latvia shall be obligated to submit an application to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs within 10 days to receive a visa with a work permit.
The Law stipulates that Ukrainian psychologists are authorised to provide counselling services to Ukrainian civilians. Psychologists who have been practising in any of the European Union member states, European Economic Area member states, or in the Swiss Confederation will be authorised to provide short-term professional counselling services based on a relevant decision of the Psychologist Certification Board. Additionally, Ukrainian civilians will be authorised to work as sports staff (instructors) participating in the education process of Ukrainian civilians who are minors.
The amendments clarify the provisions of the Law pertaining to the rights of Ukrainians to acquire general, professional, and higher education. Students of Forms 9 and 12 arriving from Ukraine will be allowed to take exams of the current study year in the study subjects of the educational institution in a minority language. The state will also provide a research grant for scientific or academic work to those Ukrainians who performed the duties of academic or scientific staff in Ukraine and are unpaid trainees in Latvia.
The amendments also allow Ukrainians to visit national museums free of charge by presenting a personal ID or other document certifying that the individual is a Ukrainian civilian.
The amendments will enter into force on the next day after their promulgation.
Saeima Press Service