Latvia - World Bank president overestimates wages - August 18, 2010

Latvia needs to continue implementing structural long-term reforms to achieve recovery of the country’s economy, declared World Bank President Robert B. Zoellick in his three-day visit to the Baltic country last week. During the visit in the Latvian city of Sigulda, Zoellick met with unemployed people participating in the so-called 100 lats (140 euros) program, formed by temporary employment provided by the Latvian government to its poorest citizens. Under a scorching sun, the World Bank president listened with interest to workers who are trying to clear areas infected with toxic and invasive plants, and he felt a little embarrassed when he asked if this is a one-day salary, as the workers explained to him that 100 lats is a monthly fee for an eight-hour working day.

English: http://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/26786/

This article was published in the Collective Bargaining Newsletter. It aims to facilitate information exchange between trade unions and to support the work of ETUC's collective bargaining committee. For more information, please contact the editor Maarten van Klaveren, Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Labour Studies (AIAS) M.vanKlaveren@uva.nl. You may find further information on the ETUI atwww.etui.org, and on the AIAS at www.uva-aias.net. © ETUI aisbl, Brussels 2009.