Closure of Grīva Prison in Daugavpils to also cost local businesses their workforce

By the end of this year, Grīva Prison in Daugavpils is due to close, with its inmates relocated to other correctional facilities across Latvia. The decision will affect not only prison staff but also several local business owners who have relied on inmate labor for years.

A workforce as well as inmates

While the public generally views prisoners as offenders, for some entrepreneurs in Daugavpils they have simply been a source of labor. A number of businesses have employed inmates from the prison, using them for various kinds of work.

Entrepreneurs already notified

The affected business owners were formally informed of the upcoming change on June 30, when they learned that the labor force they had relied on would soon no longer be available, as the prison is being closed and inmates moved elsewhere.

The impact of the closure on local business and the specifics of this prison-labor arrangement were discussed in more detail on LSM's program "Let's Discuss This Evening" ("Обсудим вечером").