Eurofound's ERM database on restructuring-related legal regulations provides
information on regulations in the Member States of the European Union and Norway
which are explicitly or implicitly linked to anticipating and managing change.
Latvia: Severance pay/redundancy compensation
Phase
Labour law
Native name
Darba likums
Type
Severance pay/redundancy compensation
Added to database
08 May 2015
Article
Labour law
Articles 75, 100, 101, 112
Description
The employee is entitled to severance pay in certain cases of dismissal, including redundancy due to a reduction in numbers of employees. If a collective agreement or the employment contract does not specify a higher severance pay, the employer has to pay a severance pay of the following amounts:
one month average earnings if the employee has been employed by the employer for less than five years;
two months average earnings if the employee has been employed by the employer for five to 10 years;
three months average earnings if the employee has been employed by the employer for 10 to 20 years; and
four months average earnings if the employee has been employed by the relevant employer for more than 20 years.
In compliance with section 75 of the labour law, 'average earnings shall be calculated based on the work remuneration calculated for the work of the employee during the previous six months, on supplementary payments specified in regulatory enactments, collective agreements or employment contract, as well as from bonuses'. The law also details seven specific cases for the calculation of the payments, related to specific employment situations.
Commentary
No information available.
Additional metadata
Cost covered by
Employer
Involved actors other than national government
National government
Involvement (others)
None
Thresholds
Affected employees: No, applicable in all circumstances Company size: No, applicable in all circumstances Additional information: No, applicable in all circumstances
Sources
DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities/Héra, 2011, Selected companies’ legal obligations regarding restructuring
Karnīte, R., 2011, Evaluation of the operation and effects of information and consultation directives in the EU/EEA countries, Fitness Check, National Report Latvia, European Commision, DG for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion
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