Latvia plans to call up National Guard members for mobilisation exercises

Latvia's Ministry of Defence has prepared amendments to regulations that would allow members of the National Guard (Zemessardze) to be called up for mobilisation exercises. The draft legal act covers how guardsmen are notified and what employers must do when an employee is summoned.

Notification

Under the draft, National Guard members and reserve soldiers must be told 72 hours before the start of a combat readiness check that they are to take part.

Employer obligations

Employers would be required to release a guardsman from work for the exercise. This must be done no later than 24 hours before the arrival time at the training site that is stated in the summons the guardsman received. The employee's job must be kept.

Employers would also have to give guardsmen a certificate on their pay before the exercise begins. Its content depends on how the person is paid:

• if the guardsman is paid by time, the certificate must state the salary set in the employment contract;
• if the guardsman is paid on a piece-rate basis, it must state average earnings over the previous six months.

The source does not say when the amendments could take effect or when the exercises will be held. For now, the proposal is a draft prepared by the ministry.