Daugavpils man sues CERT.LV over rejected cybersecurity job application
A Daugavpils resident who obtained a cybersecurity specialist qualification has filed a lawsuit against Latvia's CERT.LV, claiming his job application was unfairly rejected. He says the region offers virtually no IT vacancies despite officials publicly complaining about a shortage of specialists.
A resident of Daugavpils named Artūrs, who recently completed a level-4 computer systems and cybersecurity specialist qualification, has filed a claim with the Latgale District Court in Daugavpils against CERT.LV, an institution operating under the State Security Service. He believes his application for a vacant position was rejected unfairly, without proper consideration of his new diploma.
Artūrs completed a specialized program called "Cybersecurity in Public Administration," passing the state exam with the highest possible grade, and says his qualification has even been recognized by the Saeima administration. Despite this, he says his application was turned down based on old, undocumented impressions about him from a previous conversation.
Points to regional inequality
In his letter to LA.LV, Artūrs stresses that outside Riga, job opportunities for young IT and cybersecurity specialists are close to nonexistent. He says he personally reviewed listings on the job portals SS.lv and VisiDarbi.lv and found no active vacancies in this field in Daugavpils — the regional labor market mainly offers low-skilled jobs or positions requiring prior experience in law enforcement agencies.
Artūrs, who also has a disability, says that after completing his education he ended up socially isolated and forced to live on a minimal disability pension. He argues this reflects a devaluation of state investment in education, poor governance, and neglect of the regions.
Seeking moral compensation
He has also filed complaints with the State Labour Inspectorate and the State Security Service over alleged discrimination. In the civil case, registered as No. 20775, he is seeking 2,000 euros in moral compensation from CERT.LV, citing what he calls unfair treatment in employment matters and a violation of the principle of good governance. He says he is confident he will win the case.
