Country name: Latvia PES name: State Employment Agency (NVA) Basic organisation model Objectives The objectives of the State Employment Agency include: providing support to the unemployed, job seekers and people at risk of unemployment to increase their competitiveness in the labour market; implementing active employment measures; and implementing and administering European Social Fund projects. Targets Qualitative performance targets for 2014, as defined in the State Employment Agency s Work plan for 2014, include: Activating clients and providing targeted support according to the target group s needs to: o provide individual and targeted support to the long-term unemployed; o ensure fast matching of labour market demand and supply; and, o ensure implementation of the Youth Guarantee. Improving cooperation with employers to improve labour market mismatch to: o carry out activities to research labour market supply; and, o increase employer s motivation to register potential vacancies. Improving the State Employment Agency s efficiency. Tasks The State Employment Agency undertakes a range of tasks. These include: evaluating employment measures; providing short-term labour market forecasts; carrying out employer surveys; registering and maintaining unemployed and job seeker records; providing jobseekers with counselling; and collecting information on vacancies registered by Structure, organisation levels and autonomy The State Employment Agency consists of a central office and 28 local employment offices. The central office ensures strategic planning and management functions, while local offices deliver services locally to clients. Relation to government The Ministry of Welfare is the main state institution in the areas of labour, social security and gender equality policies.the State Employment Agency is under the supervision of the Ministry of Welfare of the Republic of Latvia. Management structure 1
Partnerships Partner Objectives of partnership Partnership arrangements Municipalities. Providing paid temporary public works. Working with the long-term unemployed to promote the success of the settlement into work (pilot project). Inter-institutional agreements. Cooperation agreements. Training organisations. Providing training services to unemployed and people at risk of unemployment. Voucher system. Employers. Associations and foundations (NGOs) (except political parties). Private employment agencies. Subsidised employment ( Workplace for youth and Measures for disadvantaged groups ), training in priority areas (except educational and medical institutions). Subsidised employment ( Workplace for youth, Measures for disadvantaged groups and Paid temporary public works ), youth voluntary work, training in priority areas, support measures such as the Work skills development in NGOs. Exchange with vacancies. Cooperation agreements. Cooperation agreements. Cooperation agreements. Role of the social partners The social partners are not involved in the management, supervision or monitoring of NVA. Network and information management Staff oversee the quality of cooperation. Relevant stakeholders are also involved in the implementation of interdisciplinary projects. In addition, the State Employment Agency has separate structures for partnership with employers, private employment agencies, and municipalities. The State Employment Agency uses e-mail and staff meetings to communicate internally; databases are used for specific tasks, for example the BURVIS and CV Vacancy Portal for registration and recording unemployed numbers and vacancies. ly, the PR division communicates through national and regional press (TV and radio), website and social media (Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and the internet: www.draugiem.lv) and printed materials. A series of staff meetings and management meetings are also held regularly, including a quarterly meeting for the evaluation of achieved results. Financing model Sources of financing The table provides a detailed breakdown of finance per source. PES Sources of Finances (in Euro, millions) 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Total 154 7 113 8 95 5 97 2 59 9 Government & public funds 43 4 18 0 0 0 State basic budget (NVA basic activity spend) 0 0 6 6 7 State basic budget (implementation of LMPMs) 0 0 9 9 8 State special budget (implementation of LMPMs) 0 0 0 3 0 0 EU financing including ESF paybacks, coordination of European projects and measures 110 5 4 89 80 1 82 4 45 4 te: 2010 2013 figures are based on actual spend; 2014 forecast budget. Annual expenditure PES annual expenditure from 2009 to 2014 (projected) has declined; however spending on ALMPs has been increasing steadily since 2010. 2
PES annual expenditure (in Euro, millions) 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Total PES expenditure 80 9 157 5 156 7 95 5 97 2 59 9 ALMPs 9 6 9 2 10 6 29 2 29 9 31 8 ALMPs for young people / Youth Guarantee 0 0 0 0 0 6 2 Other benefits 0 0 0 1 5 1 7 1 3 Staff costs 5 3 4 1 4 2 4 3 4 5 5 4 Other 66 144 2 141 9 60 5 61 1 15 2 Human resources Number of staff and staff directly serving clients (FTE) Total PES staff and staff directly serving clients 2013 2012 2011 2010 Total PES staff serving clients Total PES staff 2009 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 te: Numbers stated for 2013 reflect the actual number of staff on 31 December 2013. Total PES staff at head office 184 Staff servicing clients at head office 0 Total PES staff at local offices 595 Staff servicing clients at local offices (28 affiliates) (excluding client service centres**) Total staff at client service centre** (22 client service centres) 512 38 te: Some local offices have client service centres to provide services outside the regional centre. These client service centres are generally considered as part of local office structure. Data provided reflect actual number of staff on 31 December 2013. Integration of employment services and benefit provision The State Employment Agency is not responsible for the payment of unemployment allowances or other social benefits. Unemployment benefits are calculated and paid by the State Social Insurance Agency. The unemployed can submit an application for benefit to the State Employment Agency local office. 3
Type of allowance /benefit Unemployment insurance. Social assistance. Minimum income schemes. Disability benefits. Clients / customers Jobseekers Responsibilities Registration Payments Employment services for recipients PES undertakes initial registration of unemployed and ongoing monitoring of continued eligibility for the status of unemployed. Municipality undertakes registration and evaluates eligibility, the PES informs if the person is unemployed. Municipality undertakes registration and evaluates eligibility. State Social Insurance Agency undertakes registration and evaluates eligibility. State Social Insurance Agency. Municipalities, social services. Municipalities, social services. State Social Insurance Agency. Jobseeker clients by main groups recognised PES. PES, if the person is unemployed or jobseeker. PES, if the person is unemployed or jobseeker. PES, if the person is unemployed or jobseeker. 2013 2012 2011 2010 Total number of registered unemployed Total number of registered jobseekers 2009 0 50000 100000 150000 200000 250000 300000 Jobseekers per national category 2011 2012 2013 Ex-convicts (persons discharged from imprisonment). 526 401 335 Long-term unemployed (have been registered in the NVA for more than one year). Persons in the pre-pension age (not more than five years until the age of necessary for the granting of the State old age pension). 61 331 45 981 33 038 17 109 7 845 7 197 Persons after parental leave. 3 344 2 963 2 692 Disabled persons (persons for whom the invalidity has been determined). 9 345 9 799 9 524 Young people aged 15-24 years. 23 203 10 339 8 873 The State Employment Agency categorise registered job seeking clients into registered unemployed and registered jobseekers. After registration with the State Employment Agency, a person can be granted the status of unemployed or jobseeker according to the criteria below. 4
Registered unemployed Does not work. Is seeking employment. Is able-bodied and ready to immediately engage in employment. Is at least 15 years old and has not reached the age of retirement. Does not receive old-age pension. Is not enrolled in full-time primary or secondary school programmes. Is not engaged in business. Is not in imprisonment. Is not under the fully financed state or municipality social care. Registered jobseeker Does not work. Is seeking employment. Is able-bodied and ready to immediately engage in employment. Is at least 15 years old. Is not engaged in business. Is not enrolled in full-time primary school programmes. Employers The State Employment Agency does not categorise employer customers by specific characteristics. Other clients Employees at risk of unemployment can access training programs and pupils / students can receive career counselling at local offices. Types and methods of service provision Services for jobseekers What services do you provide? Individual counselling services. Career counselling services. Self-service. Services for employers What services do you provide? Service for staff reduction or redundancy. What target group is the service for? All registered unemployed. All jobseekers, registered unemployed, students and pupils. All jobseekers and What target group is the service for? Employers, workers who are exposed to the risk of unemployment. How do you deliver the service? Fact-to-face interviews. Personal assessment Face-to-face interviews. Group counselling. E-counselling. Web-based job-vacancy and CV database. Number of people reached From 1 vember 2013 to 31 December 2013 there were 17 141 unemployed people assessed using the profiling method. Individual consultations provided to 28 645 people, group consultations provided to 16 479 people. Of all consultations, 87.2 % were provided to the unemployed. N/A How do you deliver the service? Individual or group counseling within enterprises with employees who have received a notice of redundancy from their employer. Vacancy recording. All Recording job vacancy (in person, by phone or e-cv / Vacancies Online). Matching (Selection of an Employee). Licensing and supervision of companies that provide job placement services. All Selection of employee upon employer request. All Issue of licenses placement services. N/A Number of people reached 2013: 37 2012: 10 In 2013: 13 375 employers registered vacancies. 2013: 18 913 selection activities. Training of unemployed All Training provided by educational 2013: 36 5
upon employer request. institution. Subsidised employment. Training in priority areas. All Employers in manufacturing, transport and logistics, tourism and ICT. Job vacancies, market share and performance State co-financed work places for specific target groups unemployed. 2013: 1 062 Practical training at the employer. 2013:16 Collecting information on job vacancies Job vacancy information is gathered by State Employment Agency employees responsible for cooperation with Employers submit vacancies online, at any local employment office or by telephone. Employers register vacancies on a purely voluntary basis. However, PES employees encourage employers to register vacancies by maintaining regular contact with them. Face-to-face meetings and telephone contact are used daily to gather vacancies and the CV Vacancy Portal is available on a 24 hour basis. Vacancies are counted as the number of employers who are placing vacancies. Positions are defined as the number of vacant positions in each of the vacancies. In practice, this means that one employer can report a number of vacant positions. New vacancies and positions 50000 45000 40000 35000 30000 25000 20000 15000 10000 5000 0 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Vacancies Positions (if different to vacancies) te: Date of observation: 31 December 2012 and 31 December 2013. PES market share and performance The State Employment Agency does not record data on the overall placements made. However, data is recorded in terms of the number of vacancies de-registered from the State Employment Agency register. In 2012, 23 987 vacancies were de-registered and in 2013 this was 31 406. The State Employment Agency does not operate with data about filled vacancies. This figure shows how many vacancies through year have been de-registered from the vacancy database. They can be deregistered for a variety of reasons; it might not be because the vacancy has been filled. Matching supply and demand The State Employment Agency carries out short-term labour market forecasting. In addition, in the framework of the European Social Fund project Development of labour market forecasting and monitoring system of the State Employment Agency every six months from 2012 until 2014. From this a list of 20 employer demand professions is created and a further list of 20 of less demanded professions. Information about employers registered vacancies is monitored with regards to the regions, occupational groups and industries that they correspond to. A detailed analysis of vacancies is carried out for the planning of vocational and informal training programmes offered for the unemployed. Feedback on this is received at least once a year from the Training Commission, established by the Ministry of Welfare. This is composed of representatives from ministries, the State Employment Agency, social partners and other experts. 6
Active Labour Market Policies LMP services (category 1) The three services for jobseekers (individual counselling, career counselling services and selfservices) are categorised as LMP services. Individual counselling and self-service are not specifically targeted to young people although them. The State Employment Agency has developed specific tests and methodology for career counselling for use with young people and measures to increase competitiveness. These include individual counselling and group sessions of job search, psychological support and short courses to develop basic skills and are delivered by external service providers. Again they are not specifically targeted to young people although young people can access them. The State Employment Agency developed an online profiling system for unemployed people in 2013. This includes separation of certain functional groups; where each group is presented / recommended a set range of services and working arrangements is available. The system has been implemented in all local offices since vember 2013. LMP measures (category 2-7) Ref. Name of measure Cat. Brief description Delivered in house/by external providers Does this service, or some of its components, specifically target youth? 1 Acquisition of informal education. 2 Training, retraining of the unemployed. 3 Life-long learning for the employed. 4 Training and workpractice. 5 Training by the employer. 6 Training in priority areas. 7 Subsidized employment. 8 Youth voluntary work. 9 Workshops for 2 Acquisition of informal education aimed at increasing competitiveness in labour market. Possible to learn state language, improve social skills or obtain tractor driving licence. Implemented with voucher system. 2 Vocational training and professional development education programs available for unemployed. Implemented with voucher system. 2 Learning opportunities for the employed at risk of unemployment. Implemented with voucher system. 2 Young unemployed have the opportunity to gain work experience through work practice at the State Employment Agency (NVA) as NVA inspectors assistants. 4 Work skills and professional skills update at the employer. 4 Work skills and professional skills update at the employer in the fields of manufacturing, transport and logistics, tourism and ICT. educational institutions. educational institutions. educational institutions. In house. Employers. Employers. 4 Subsidized workplaces for vulnerable groups. Employers. Yes 4 Facilitates youth work for public weal, at the same time gaining some practical work experience. 4 Activity anticipates that young unemployed get acquainted with three professional fields (3 weeks in each field) in order to choose their future professional path. Associations and foundations (NGOs). education institutions. Targeted at Targeted at Targeted at 7
10 Regional mobility measure. 4 Support to unemployed finding employment more than 20 km away from their home to compensate travel or rent expenditure for the first months. In house. 11 Support to unemployed with addictions. 5 Involvement in the activity lasts for 28 days providing people overcome their addiction to alcohol, drugs and psychotropic substances with the help of the Minnesota 12-step programme. service provider. 12 Training for skills acquisition/ maintenance. 6 Temporary employment practice creation (public works). Municipalities. 13 Support for business start-ups. 7 Support for business or self-employment startup (consultations and support for implementation of business plan). consultants. Target time for different phases of intervention Unemployed people should re-enter the world of work within six months after receiving training or participating in a measure outlined in the individual action plan. Supporting young people - Youth Guarantee The Youth Guarantee was introduced on 2 January 2014. Responsibility for Youth Guarantee The Ministry of Welfare is in charge of establishing and managing the Youth Guarantee. The other main actors involved are the State Employment Agency, the Ministry of Science and Education, the State Education Development Agency, municipalities, and youth organisations. PES and the implementation of the Youth Guarantee The State Employment Agency implements the Youth Guarantee. Activities offered through the Youth Guarantee are the same as for regular clients, only these are now clients aged 15 to 29 years. The Youth Guarantee will be implemented nationally by 24 career counsellors, 45 coordination experts and 20 administrative staff. Reaching out to young people not in education, employment or training (NEETs) The State Employment Agency does not contact young people who have left school but have not yet registered with the PES. There are no mechanisms in place for sharing information on young people who have left school but have neither found employment nor registered with the PES. The following activities are undertaken to encourage registration of this group: local, regional and national media information raising about the Youth Guarantee; municipalities, NGOs and youth organisations are involved in finding potential clients and sharing information. Quality of guarantee Separate criteria for the quality offer of a guarantee are not established. The quality of activities is ensured through steps which include: each young unemployed goes through profiling which helps to offer them a support measure in accordance with their skills and motivation to work; and, an individual job seeker s plan is developed for each participant, this is the basis for any offers that the NVA sends the individual. Partnerships Type of partnership In place? Details Partnerships to ensure that young people have full information and support available. Y Youth NGOs, other state institutions and agencies, municipalities provide information on how to re-enter employment or education and where to find information. 8
Partnerships aimed at increasing employment, apprenticeship and traineeship opportunities. Partnerships aimed at supporting transitions from unemployment, inactivity or education into work. Y Y Employers are encouraged to provide workplaces or apprenticeships for the young unemployed by participating in activities or measure. Education institutions can participate in training, apprenticeships. Employers, NGOs, municipalities and schools are the main partners in helping the unemployed transition into work or education. Each partner provides information to the unemployed. Municipalities and NGOs can find potential clients and offer them help or guide them to the State Employment Agency. Employers and schools offer programmes or work for the unemployed. Funds allocated to the Youth Guarantee Total EUR 66 657 820 (from 2014 to 2018) Total allocated to the first phase implemented by the SEA: EUR 30 769 284 YEI funds 29 010 639 14 137 239 ESF funds 32 000 000 14 137 239 State funds 4 503 608 1 351 233 Private funds 1 143 573 1 143 573 The total allocated for the second phase, implemented by the State Education Development Agency (SEA), is EUR 26 371 641. The total allocated for the third phase (NEET activation activities) is EUR 6 000 000. Activation services and measures for young people, within the context of the Youth Guarantee Types of intervention Brief description Is it new? Personalised guidance services. Individual action planning. Work-based integration: Working with employers to re-integrate young people in work. Work-based integration. School-based integration. School-based integration: Working with schools to re-integrate young people in education. Career counselling and vocational guidance includes career planning, professional suitability tests and work searching and maintaining techniques. Development of individual job seekers plan, profiling and job-search assistance. First work experience for youth opportunity for 18 to 24 year olds to gain work experience for up to 12 months in a newly created workplace receiving mandatory state social benefits worth at least the state set minimum wage and workplace adjustment for those with disabilities. Work positions are established in cooperation with employers who have signed a contract. First work experience for youth in NGOs opportunity for 18 to 24 year olds to gain work experience for up to six months in NGOs in a field related to the unemployed persons experience or education. Subsidised work placements for up to 36 months for vulnerable groups of young people (18 to 24 year olds with disabilities, and those facing difficulties to re-integrate after child care leave, as well as long-term unemployed). Work positions are established in cooperation with employers who have signed a contract Workshops for youth opportunity to take part in vocational education programmes, learning theory and practical skills leading to employment and/or further education. n-formal training programme aimed at improving basic practical and social skills in accordance with labour market demands, such as IT, 9
language, project management, etc. Subsidies paid to Vocational education programmes offers practical, vocational education to increase the skills of those unemployed and increase employment prospects and opportunities. First work experience for youth half of the state set minimum wage is paid to the supervisor of the employee. 10