Lack of language basis for dismissal

RIGA - The Latvian State Language Center has fined a board member of municipal company Rezeknes Namsaimnieksin eastern Latvian city of Rezekne with 100 lats (EUR 142) for insufficient knowledge of the official language.

The center's representative Atis Skalbergs told the Baltic News Service that the person had been administrativelypunished earlier and had not taken the official language examination in threemonths. The Rezekne city council has to decide now whether or not to dismissthe employee.

The municipality has already been sent the documents.

Skalbergs said that the board member of the company on Dec. 13, 2007, was punished for not using theofficial language when performing his professional duties. He hwas supposed tohave taken the official language examination by Apr. 1, but he failed ot do so.

"He even did not try to do anything," said Skalbergs, adding thatsuch cases are not frequent.

Skalbergs said that the council has to dismiss the man, in accordance withthe law. "The municipality can still ask the State Language Centerto form up a committee to assess his knowledge, but he does not know the language,"said Skalbergs.