Foreign Ministry launches series of events "Find out before you agree to a job abroad!" [22 Oct 2009]

On 21 October, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, by a press conference on the issues of employment in foreign countries, launched a series of events "Find out before you agree to a job abroad!"

At the press conference, the Head of the Legal and Consular Directorate, Alda Vanaga informed about the most frequent risks and problems encountered by the residents of Latvia in foreign countries. Director of the Employment State Agency, Baiba Paševica brought attention to the issues to be taken into account, should a person make use of services by recruitment companies or consider job opportunities abroad.

Before a resident of Latvia goes to a foreign country in search of a job, he or she is requested to take the following precaution measures:

-         to study very carefully one's employment contract, the wages offer, living conditions and language requirements;

-         to plan extra financial means for an emergency situation;

-         to inform family members and friends about one's new address;

-         to register at the Consular Register of the Foreign Ministry;

-         to make a copy of one's passport;

-         to obtain a life, health and property insurance.

The speakers also reminded about the opportunities to apply, in case of emergency, for assistance at the Latvian representations abroad. In order to fight fraud among those who offer jobs abroad, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs invited to report cases of fraud by writing to an Embassy of Latvia (if the person is still in a foreign country), to the Employment State Agency or the State Police (if the person has returned to Latvia).

A series of seminars entitled "Find out before you agree to a job abroad!" organized by the Foreign Ministry and the Employment State Agency will begin on 26 October in Riga and will be concluded on 25 November in Rezekne.  The events held in ten largest cities of Latvia are to provide advice for all those interested in how to avoid emergency situations and how to act in emergency when seeking employment abroad. 

• Schedule of seminars

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