Greens and Farmers Union Proposes Adding Forest Workers' Day to Latvia's Observances

The Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS), one of the parties in Latvia's governing coalition, intends to propose adding Forest Workers' Day to the country's list of observances. Harijs Rokpelnis, chair of the ZZS faction in the Saeima, Latvia's parliament, told journalists about the plan on Monday after a meeting of the coalition parties. If the idea is supported, a new observance would appear on the Latvian calendar.

A tradition from the first republic

Rokpelnis noted that the day is not entirely new: during the first period of Latvian independence, forest workers were honoured on the third Sunday of September. ZZS now wants to bring this tradition back by including it in the official list.

Next steps

According to Rokpelnis, the coalition partners agreed at the meeting that their colleagues would familiarise themselves with the draft by next week. ZZS will then push it forward in the Saeima.

"We agreed that by next week colleagues will study this draft, and then we will move it forward in the Saeima," Rokpelnis said.

The source does not specify what status the new day would have or whether it would be a day off.