Photo: Signe Birziete

In order to promote the cooperation of the newly opened Jelgava branch and the involved parties, the Society Integration Foundation (SIF) held an opening event, where representatives of various sectors gathered – non-governmental organizations, local government institutions, representatives of the academic sector, representatives of the business sector and other interested parties, to learn more about the work of the Integration and Inclusion Agency, as well as to form a closer cooperation. During that time, a public discussion “How should we act to include foreigners (immigrants)?” was also held, in which Zaiga Pūce, Director of the Society Integration Foundation, Rita Vectirāne, Deputy Chairperson of the Jelgava City Council, Ligita Vaita, Deputy Head of the International Cooperation Center of the Latvian University of Life Sciences and Technologies, Aigars Rublis, Head of the Jelgava branch of the State Employment Agency and Agnese Olševska, Head of the LIAA Jelgava Business Incubator, took part. As the main finding – Integration and Inclusion Agency will provide great support in solving important issues for foreigners. Currently, there are 1300 jobs in the Zemgale region, 20-25% of which are aimed at third-country nationals, which allows us to conclude that the lack of labor is an important factor, which is increasingly being raised as an issue from representatives of the business sector. Therefore, there must be found ways to bring together job seekers with employers, for example, through job exchange events, as well as the society as a whole must become more open, see the benefits and form an open-minded attitude so that foreigners want to integrate into our culture and everyday life.

“For the first time in 30 years, the number of people living in Latvia has increased this year. However, this did not happen due to the birth rate increase, it happened due to immigration and war refugees coming from Ukraine, who have found asylum in Latvia. I am pleased that in the opening of the Integration and Inclusion Agency regional branches together with NGOs, representatives of the business environment, academic staff, representatives of the state and local government institutions, we are looking for solutions to create the conditions so that everyone who has chosen Latvia as their country of residence feels good here and falls in love with our society, culture and language,” said Zaiga Pūce, Director of the Society Integration Foundation.

Effective provision of the Integration and Inclusion Agency services includes the creation of close cooperation with municipalities and all involved parties, because most basic needs are directly tied to the offer of municipalities – to receive information about employment, education, housing, health care, language learning and so on. This is confirmed by the compilation of the most frequently asked questions at the Integration and Inclusion Agency branches, which include questions about obtaining residence permit, educational opportunities, recognition of professional qualifications obtained abroad, employment and language learning opportunities in Latvia.

Clients of the Zemgale region are consulted at the premises of the Community Center (Sabiedriskais centrs), in Jelgava, Skolotāju Street 8, on Mondays from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. To receive consultations, you need to apply by calling +37125915300 or writing to the e-mail address: [email protected].

We remind you that in May of this year, the first regional branch of the Integration and Inclusion Agency was opened in Latvia – in the city of Liepāja. Customers of the Kurzeme region are served at the premises of Liepāja City Council, Rožu Street 6, on Mondays from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. To receive consultations, you need to apply by calling +37129570364 or writing to the e-mail address: [email protected].

Meanwhile, in Riga, clients are served at the premises of the Society Integration Foundation at Raiņa Boulevard 15, on weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. To receive consultations, you need to apply by calling +37126959706 or writing to the e-mail address: [email protected].

Services of the Integration and Inclusion Agency are provided by the Society Integration Foundation within the framework of the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund’s project (Agreement No. PMIF/13.1./2022/1/01). The funding has been allocated by the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (75%) and Latvian State budget (25%).