On 19 August, we organised the first of the four regional events under the Norwegian grant project “Enhancing local and regional tripartite social dialogue in Latvia”. We visited and inspired the quail farm, THE MORNING BIRDS cultivating quails, producing excellent and healthy products, went on a cruise with the Gulbis boat down the Daugava and hosted a guesthouse in Perseja.
The official part of the measure discussed various topical business issues, such as investment projects in municipalities, infrastructure provision in municipalities, services to municipalities, the impact of Administrative territorial reform on municipal development and social dialogue between municipalities, entrepreneurs and citizens.
Dainis Vingris, vice-president of the Aizkraukles municipality council, emphasized 3 main areas of business – agriculture, production and tourism. The problem is the lack of suitable housing for young specialists. The municipality delegates some of its functions to entrepreneurs, such as seniors’ homes and tourism. Local government employees meet monthly with municipality entrepreneurs, organise a seminar and educational events, as well as the Business Days.
The Chairman of the Latvian Business Union Board, Eduard Filippov, emphasised the need for stability, planning and structured negotiations. Extended social dialogue with different stakeholders is needed.
Members of the discussion highlighted the more active participation of residents in municipal and parliamentary elections, meaningful talks so that the sides of the social dialogue do not go further to each other.
Thank you very much to Dainis Vingris, Vice-President of the Aizkraukles municipality council, Head of Enterprise Support Centre, Baiba Kellere, Mistress of Perseja, quail Farm MORNING BIRDS for the hosts, Aizkraukles municipality businessmen, members and friends of the Riga Business Association, Latvian Business Union and expert Eduard Filippovs, Latvian Communications Workers’ Union and Irena Liepina, NGO “RELATIVES in Jaunjelgava” for participation in the event, for active co-operation and expressing opinions.
Meeting in the next regional events already in September.
Agenda
| 9.30-10.00 | Arrival, coffee break |
| 10.00-10.15 | Opening address and project overview – objectives and activities
Juris Juhņevičs, Chairman of the Board of the Riga Entrepreneurs Association |
| 10.15-11.40 | Visit the company of Aizkraukles municipality: “Morning Birds”
The Morning Birds, Koknese, Koknese reg. |
| 11.40-12.00 | Arrival at the guesthouse in “Pērses krasts,” coffee pause
Daugava Street, Koknese, Aizkraukles reg. |
| 12.00-12.30 | The role of municipalities in promoting social dialogue, the impact of Administrative territorial reform on municipal relations with entrepreneurs and NGOs
Dainis Vingris, Deputy og the Head of the Aizkraukles municipality council |
| 12.30-13.00 | Structured and meaningful talks and negotiating partners
Eduards Filippovs, Chairman of the Board of the Latvian Business Union |
| 13.00-13.45 | Lunch |
| 13.45-15.00 | Discussion on the role of business organisations in dialogue with the municipality
· Baiba Kellere, Head of the Aizkraukles Municipality Business Support Centre · NGO Marupe Entrepreneurs member Karlis Bodnieks · Juris Juhņevičs, Chairman of the Board of the Riga Entrepreneurs Association |
| 15.00-15.20 | Industry unions as a proxy between employers and workers. The role of collective agreements and general agreements
Irene Liepiņa, Chairman of the Latvian Communications Workers’ Union |
| 15.20-16.00 | Working in Groups
Eduards Filippovs, Chairman of the Board of the Latvian Business Union |
| 16.00-16.30 | Summary and conclusion of the measure |
“Enchancing local and regional tripartite social dialogue in Latvia” under the EEA and Norwegian grant project programme “Adequate work and social dialogue”.
