Retirement age could be raised when people start living longer - Silina

RIGA - The retirement age could be raised only when the health system improves in Latvia, as well as society's responsibility for their health improves and people begin to live longer, Minister of Welfare Evika Silina (JV) told Latvian Television last evening.

Silina points out that it would be too early to talk about raising the retirement age in Latvia, because the average life expectancy is not long enough to be able to do so.

She also expresses the opinion that it is necessary to think about attracting highly qualified employees from abroad for a specific period time, or employees who remain here and make their lives here.

"We can be more open to attract employees from many countries, but not from Russia and Belarus," says Silina.

The Minister of Economy Ilze Indriksone (National Alliance) states that foreigners do not have a great desire to work here, and qualified workers already have no problem obtaining work visas in Latvia.

At a government meeting on April 6, Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins said that Latvia will inevitably need to consider raising the retirement age. The prime minister voiced this position during a discussion on the state of the national economy and possible improvements after hearing a report on Latvia's Stability Program 2023-2026.

However, commenting on his earlier remarks about a need for a further hike of the retirement age, Karins said that this will not be a matter for the current parliament to tackle.

Silina said on Latvian Radio later that the raising of the retirement age that was started several years ago is still ongoing and that the retirement age will only reach 65 years in 2025. Silina said that she is not considering a hike of the retirement age at the moment.