INTEGRATION OFIMMIGRANTS IN

LATVIALATVIA

Today in Latvia there are two termsdefining foreigners:defining foreigners:

the “old immigrants” or those who had i d d i g th S i t ti arrived during the Soviet times,

the new arrivals or “new immigrants”.g

I 2007 3201 f i i d it tIn 2007, 3201 foreigner received a permit tostay in Latvia temporarily for the first time.

1 RESIDENCE PERMIT AND FAMILY1. RESIDENCE PERMIT AND FAMILYREUNIFICATION REGULATIONS

Immigrants are eligible to stay in Latvia if theyImmigrants are eligible to stay in Latvia if theyhold one of the following three residencepermits:pa temporary residence permit,a permanent residence permita permanent residence permit,long-term resident status of the EuropeanCommunity in LatviaCommunity in Latvia.

Having lived in Latvia for five years with atemporary residence permit, an immigrant iseligible to receive either a permanent residencepermit or long-term resident status of theEuropean Community in Latvia.

The situation changes once an immigrant isThe situation changes once an immigrant iseligible for a permanent residency permit orf ffor long-term resident status of the EuropeanCommunity in Latvia.

Then a person is given the same rights asLatvian non citizensLatvian non-citizens.They can receive state provided health careservices and unemployment benefits.Their children can also receive freeTheir children can also receive freeeducation.

2 ACCESS TO THE LABOUR MARKET2. ACCESS TO THE LABOUR MARKET

WORK PERMIT

Access of third country nationals to Latvia’slabour market is restricted as policy favours theemployment of local and EU residents.

Third country nationals who have obtained longThird country nationals who have obtained long-term resident status of the EuropeanC it (EC) i L t i bl tCommunity (EC) in Latvia, are able to accessthe local labour market without any restrictions.

LATVIAN LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS ANDQUALIFICATION TO WORK IN LATVIAQUALIFICATION TO WORK IN LATVIA

Accessibility to the Latvian labour market isclosely related to knowledge of the Latvianl g g f ti t ilanguage as for many occupations a certainlanguage level is required by law. The personcannot work in certain positions if the languagecannot work in certain positions if the languagerequirements are not met.

Th i ll d d iThere is no governmentally sponsored educationprogram where immigrants could learn aboutL t i ’ hi t d t N L t iLatvia’s history and customs. No Latvianlanguage classes, study materials, or othertools for language learning for immigrantstools for language learning for immigrantsavailable.

3 EDUCATION FOR IMMIGRANT CHILDREN3. EDUCATION FOR IMMIGRANT CHILDREN

Among the newcomers, state guaranteededucation is provided only for immigrantseducation is provided only for immigrantsand their children, who hold a permanentresidence permit or if they are the EUresidence permit or, if they are the EUcitizens, who hold a temporary residencepermit issued in Latvia.

State guaranteed education is not provided forState guaranteed education is not provided forthe children of those third country nationals,whose parents hold a temporary residencewhose parents hold a temporary residencepermit.

Immigrant children can receive theireducation in private educationinstitutions – there the state languageinstitutions there the state languagemust be mastered at the same levelrequired to receive a diploma forprimary and secondary educationprimary and secondary education

There is no governmental policy on how tofacilitate the integration of children fromgdiverse cultural backgrounds into theeducational system in Latvia where theeducational system in Latvia, where themajority of the curriculum is in Latvian.Children from other cultural and linguisticChildren from other cultural and linguisticbackgrounds may suffer academically, dueto the lack of a system for their gradualinclusion.

THE GAP TO INTEGRATE IMMIGRANT CHILDRENIN THE NATIONAL SCHOOL SYSTEM

Although general education is primarily taughtin the Latvian language, there are noprogrammes for children, coming from othercultures, education systems and languagespace, to integrate themselves into theLatvian education system.y

The problem is the training level of teachers asit pertains to teaching students from variousit pertains to teaching students from variouscultures. Cross-cultural education coursesorganized by the Education Developmentorganized by the Education Developmentcenter are available for teachers.

4 ANTI DISCRIMINATION NORMS IN THE4. ANTI-DISCRIMINATION NORMS IN THECONTEXT OF IMMIGRATION

CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT BENEFICIAL FORIMMIGRANT INTEGRATIONIMMIGRANT INTEGRATION

Societal integration is a mutual process whereSocietal integration is a mutual process wherenewcomers need to put forth an effort to integrate intothe local society, while the local society should alsoy, ysupport this effort.

Thus, immigrant integration will depend on the attitudef h l l l I d di i i h iof the local people. In order to diminish negative

attitudes toward immigrants, there should be agreater focus on advancing the understanding amonggreater focus on advancing the understanding amonglocal people that each member of the society, alsoguest workers, contribute to the Latvian economy andh th i ht t h d t d d f li ihas the right to have a good standard of living.

Therefore it is necessary to acknowledge both theeconomic and human value of immigrantseconomic and human value of immigrants.

There are concerns about how prepared theprofessionals of the law enforcement, socialcare, health care, education and culture are forworking with a culturally diverse population. Aworking with a culturally diverse population. Anational policy is needed aiming to developbetter cross cultural communications skillsbetter cross-cultural communications skillsamong professionals in the above mentionedfi ldfields.

THE TYPES OF LONG - TERM RESIDENCE PERMITSPERMITS

Temporary permit

Permanent rezidence

A long-term residentpermit

residencerezidence

permitresident statusof the

European Community

Receiving residence

May receive in the country of

May receive after at least

May receive after at least

permit residence or in Latvia after

five years of residence in

five years of residence in

entering with a visa

Latvia with a temporary

id

Latvia with a temporary

idresidence permit

residence permit

THE TYPES OF LONG - TERM RESIDENCE PERMITSTemporary permit Permanent A long-term

residence rezidence permit resident statusof the European

Community

Duration of the residence permit

Issued for a maximum of five years. After expiration there is an

Issued for five years. After it expires, there is an option of extension

Issued for five years. After it expires, there is an option of extensionexpiration there is an

option of extension. Exceptions: Self-employed individuāls

an option of extension or naturalization.

an option of extension or naturalization.

employed individuāls are eligible for a residence permitfor a maximum ofone year. In the caseof the family reunion,family members

i idreceive residencepermits for the durationof the permitissued to theirissued to theirsponsor.

THE TYPES OF LONG - TERM RESIDENCE PERMITSTemporary permit Permanent A long-term

residence rezidence permit resident statusof the European

Communityy

Governmental institutions

Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs

OCMA OCMA

involved in issuing residence permits

g(OCMA) which issueswork and residencework and residencepermits, and the StateEmployment AgencyEmployment Agencywhich approvesthe invitation afterverifying theverifying the vacancy

Latvian language No Yes YesLatvian language test

No Yes Yes

THE TYPES OF LONG - TERM RESIDENCE PERMITSTemporary permit Permanent A long-term resident

residence rezidence permit statusof the European

Community

Access to labour market

Work permit needed Free – no work permit needed

Free – no work permit needed

Mobility in the labour market

Tied to one employer No restrictions in Latvia

No restrictions in Latvia or no restrictions in some otherEU country afterworking for one yearthere

Access to publicly funded social

No Yes Yes

support and health careAccess to publicly No Yes Yesp yfunded education

No Yes Yes

Support for housing No No No

MINT – MIND THE GAP:Migration NEEDS Integration

Integration Strategies for MigrantsIntegration Strategies for Migrants

MINT Team 2008/2010 Sigulda Evening School

Steps how to integrate immigrant students in Sigulda Evening School

1 An immigrant family arrives in the 1. An immigrant family arrives in the Education Department of Sigulda Town Co ncil A potential school is offeredCouncil. A potential school is offered.

2. A student and his/her parents visit the headmaster of the chosen school and / pthey are informed about the following:

School curriculumRules and regulations Rules and regulations Class teacherActivities of the Parents` BoardAn assistant headmaster and teachers work An assistant headmaster and teachers work out an individual curriculum.

3 A l t h i f t d t3. A class teacher informs studentsabout the immigrant student and asksfor volunteers to help in the integration

process.process.

4. A class teacher introduces the immigrantstudent to his/her classmates using “ice-student to his/her classmates using icebreaking” activities.

5. A class teacher introduces the immigrantt d t t f ig l g g t h dstudent to a foreign language teacher and

decides according to further language studies(l g g l dditi l ti iti t(language lessons, additional activities e.t.c.depending on necessity).

6 A class teacher informs the immigrant student6. A class teacher informs the immigrant studentabout the other possibilities to acquire foreignlanguage outside school together with his/herlanguage outside school, together with his/herparents.

7. An imigrant student takes an active part in the study process in 1-2 weeks` part in the study process in 1-2 weeks time according to his/her individual

i l curriculum.

8 A i i d l l di 8. An immigrant student regularly discusses his/her progress with the teaching staff.