Senior care home construction in Saulaine delayed by labour shortage
Construction of two long-term care buildings in Saulaine, Bauska municipality, is behind schedule because builders lack workers. The contractors promise to hand over the site by 10 November.
Construction of two senior care buildings in Saulaine, in Rundale parish of Bauska municipality, is running late, mainly because of a labour shortage. The municipality told Bauskas Dzive that the builders promise to hand the site over by 10 November. The project's total cost is 5,284,716 euros.
What is being built
On the property «Kreimenes», two long-term social care buildings, designed to feel like a family home, are being built for people of pension age. Each will have 16 places, 32 in total. The project is funded by the European Union's Recovery Fund and co-financed by Bauska municipality.
The buildings were due to be finished in summer, but the deadline was missed. Martins Veinbergs, head of the municipality's Development and Construction Department, says an acute shortage of workers persisted throughout construction. Last week the municipality summoned the management of the builder, SIA CMB, for talks. According to Veinbergs, construction costs have not increased so far and are not expected to.
Deadlines and risk
In February the Central Finance and Contracting Agency (CFLA) said the project must deliver 32 care places by 31 August 2026. If the buildings are not commissioned by then, documents proving completion can still be submitted until 15 November. The agency noted a risk of missing the targets. It is not yet known whether the risk assessment has changed or what would follow if this deadline were also missed.
Costs and funding
The design, construction and author supervision contract with the supplier partnership CMB&NEWCOM is worth 4,150,107.25 euros including VAT. Construction supervision by SIA RS Buvnieks costs 11,493.79 euros including VAT.
Of the total, 2,546,408 euros comes from the Recovery Fund and 2,738,308 euros from the municipality. In September 2025 the council also approved a 2,197,233-euro State Treasury loan for 20 years, with repayment due to begin in March 2027.
Operation
On 28 May the council decided to sign an authorisation agreement with the Latvian Samaritan Association, which is to start providing the service on 1 January 2027. Seniors will be admitted through the municipal Social Service, which will decide on granting the service and on co-financing.
