On 21 March, President of Latvia Egils Levits fast-tracked promulgation of six laws adopted by the Saeima yesterday to better manage the state of emergency declared by Latvia in response to outbreak of the Coronavirus Covid-19, as well as mitigating the impact of the virus. President also signed amendments to the Law on Dissolution of Riga City Council. Promulgation of all laws was announced through special edition of the Official Journal ‘Latvijas Vēstnesis’, No. 57B, today and these laws will come to force tomorrow.
President of Latvia promulgated the Law on Managing, Mitigation and Response to National Threats of Covid-19 Outbreak, amendments to the Commercial Law, amendments to the Disability Law, amendments to the Law on Maternity and Sickness Insurance, amendments to the Law on Social Services and Social Assistance and amendments to the Law on Dissolution of Riga City Council.
The aim of the Law on Managing, Mitigation and Response to National Threats of Covid-19 Outbreak is to provide measures for managing, mitigation and response to national threats, special support instruments and sources of funding for curbing the outbreak of Covid-19. Although the law comes to force tomorrow, its provisions were in force already since declaring of the state of emergency on 12 March.
Amendments to the Commercial Law provides that shareholder meetings and general meetings of stock companies can be held remotely, and company management can take decisions via electronic voting systems.
Amendments to the Disability Law provides measures aimed at protecting persons with disabilities against restrictions imposed due to Covid-19 outbreak. Measures offer protection in cases when disability documents have expired and person cannot submit all documents for disability determination.
Amendments to the Law on Maternity and Sickness Insurance provide special procedures for sick pay during the Covid-19 pandemic. Law seeks to support employers who need help covering sick leave costs.
Amendments to the Law on Social Services and Social Assistance provide that if family (person) has been determined as poor or is on low income and determination of the local Social Service has expired during the state of emergency, status of the family (person) is extended and valid until the end of one calendar month after the lifting of the state of emergency. Families (persons) will have access to all local and national benefits and allowances to which they are entitled as poor or low-income receivers.
Amendments to the Law on Dissolution of Riga City Council provide that local government elections are moved back to 6 June 2020.
More information on all legislative changes is available from special edition No. 57B of the Official Journal ‘Latvijas Vēstnesis’.