Get Vaccinated Or Risk Dismissal: Latvia's New Rules For On-site Work

• Published date: 06 December 2021
• Law Firm: lus Laboris
• Author: Sabīne Zaula (COBALT)

Tough new workplace access rules in Latvia mean employers can suspend and even dismiss on-site employees considered at risk of COVID-19 exposure if they are not vaccinated. From 15 December the vaccination obligation will be extended to all on-site employees.

Autumn in many European countries began with new and more stringent restrictions as legislators across the continent tried their best to limit the spread of COVID-19. The situation in Latvia is no different. In fact, in mid to late October, Latvia had one of the highest COVID-19 case rates in the world. As a result of this, Latvia has been forced to introduce even stricter control measures, including in the field of employment relations. These restrictions concern matters relating to the organisation of work, employers' right to require an employee to obtain a vaccination certificate to perform his or her duties and even to suspend or dismiss an employee (in accordance with legal principles).

First of all, in order to limit the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace, employers must provide employees with the possibility of working...