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Pay and working conditions in European countries

Latvia

Country: Latvia

Latvia’s statutory minimum wage is €780 a month in 2026, and overtime is paid with a bonus of at least 100%. 78.2% of people aged 20–64 have a job, more than the EU average. Employers look especially for ICT specialists, engineers, construction and metal trades workers and health professionals – and for most jobs you need Latvian.

Minimum wage: from 1 January 2026 at least €780 a month for standard working time (40 hours a week). For comparison, the average gross wage in 2025 was €1,815 (€1,346 net).
Contract: the employment contract must be in writing, in two copies – one is for you. A probation period can last up to 3 months; fixed-term contracts up to 5 years.
Working time: normally no more than 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week. Overtime is only allowed if you agree to it in writing, and on average no more than 8 hours of overtime in seven days (counted over four months).
Overtime is paid with a bonus of at least 100% of your hourly or daily wage; night work with at least 50%.
Breaks and rest: if you work more than 6 hours, you get a break of at least 30 minutes, no later than 4 hours after you start. Daily rest: at least 12 hours in a row; weekly rest: at least 42 hours in a row.
Holidays: at least 4 calendar weeks of paid annual leave, not counting public holidays.
Pay day: wages are paid at least twice a month, unless you agree with your employer on monthly payments.

published: 2014-09-03
last modification: 2026-10-03

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Key figures: Eurostat (population on 1 January 2026; unemployment and employment rates 2025; minimum wages July 2026); for the United Kingdom – Office for National Statistics; for Liechtenstein – national statistics. Country information: EURES – Living and working conditions, public employment services and the official government websites listed under each country. Rules, thresholds and amounts can change – check the official sources before you move. Updated: October 2026.

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