For those working in hazardous areas, we would have to make sure – in Latvia

plans to oblige self-employed persons in hazardous areas to insure their health and life against accidents in private insurance companies, in accordance with the amendments to the Labor Protection Act prepared by the Ministry of Social Affairs (1965). It is currently not subject to social insurance against accidents at work and occupational diseases and therefore receives no compensation in case of accident or occupational disease.

The study "Self-employment in Latvia and improving the legal framework for the improvement of working conditions" Recommendations were made regarding the possibility of imposing an obligation to the independent hazardous sectors, mainly in agriculture, forestry and construction, to buy a disaster insurance policy In order to ensure the protection of self-employed in the sectors the most dangerous and minimize the risk of accidents, the bill provides that the self-employed ensure their health and life against accidents in private insurance companies. Serious and fatal occupational accidents and the number of occupational diseases exceed the national average per 100,000 employees

The bill also includes a number of other amendments aimed at improving the safety and health of the self-employed, in particular when it is not possible to work. they work for a company. in the environment and may affect the safety and health of other employees.

There is also a planned change in the organizational structure of labor protection, that is to say, in larger firms of 250 or more employees, the employer will have to recruit or appoint to the least two labor protection specialists among existing employees to ensure the quality of duties.

The bill clarifies the definitions of the occupational protection specialist and the competent specialist in the field of labor protection. At the same time, LM notes that in recent years, employers and employees have increasingly agreed to work remotely – off premises using information and communication technologies. The implementation of workplace safety measures in an establishment should take into account work done remotely and workers doing such work. These requirements are also set out in the amendments submitted by the Ministry of Defense.

The amendments still have to be agreed with the ministries, approved by the government and adopted by the Saeima.