Employers' Confederation supports 2019 budget without new policy initiatives

RIGA - Latvian Employers' Confederation supports the 2019 state budget without new policy initiatives, the confederation informed the National Trilateral Cooperation Council on Wednesday.

Employers support in principle the 2019 state budget if no new policy initiatives and the so-called "MP quotas" are incorporated in the budget bill, and if the budget's deficit remains at the projected level, adjusted for the latest macroeconomic forecasts.

At the same time, the Employers' Confederation believes that a number of issues must be taken into consideration during the work on the budget. This includes taking all decisions necessary for implementation of Moneyval recommendations.

The Employers' Confederation points out that the budget has to take into consideration projections for not only those industries where amounts are decreasing, for instance, the financial sector, but also those industries where signs of overheating have been observed - construction, for example.

The confederation wants the government to foster structural changes in the national economy, emphasizing the development of productive industries, improving availability of labor, quality of education, and residents' mobility.

The Employers' Confederation also urges the government to promptly set up a high-level task force for further development of mandatory health insurance and continuing healthcare reforms.