Role of Social Actors in Latvia and Social Dialog

However, low social development impacts on the capacity of social dialogue institutions because they are self-financing organizations.
Positive aspect is there will be substantial support from EEA Grants for the civil society sector through a €10.4 million fund for non-governmental organizations, and also new funding to promote decent work and dialogue between social partners and with public authorities. With regard to the priorities stated in the action plan, as well as in line with the “Sustainable Development Strategy of Latvia until 2030” approved by the Saeima and the national Reform Programme of Latvia for the implementation of the European Union (EU) Strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, “Europe 2020”, the Government of Latvia as one of the priorities has identified goal to improve the quality of the involvement of society and civil society organizations in decision-making processes.
Conclusions: Social dialogue is accepted in the political arena, albeit more as a necessary precondition to EU membership, rather than as a means to improve social development. Existing legislation provides for the independence of social partners and political parties cannot directly influence their operation. Nonetheless social dialogue cannot proceed successfully without support from political parties since the state governance system is based on political leadership – ministers are appointed by political parties and have to promote their party manifestos. In other words, the success of social dialogue is dependent on who is in power. Until Latvian society will be passive and will accept socially unfavorable decisions without any major resistance, social dialog will exist in political arena but without favorable outcomes for social development.
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