Officials of the State Border Guard, while continuing the measures to control the employment of foreigners, have already found the employment of six foreign athletes without the right to be employed as professional football players this summer.
On Monday, August 3, the officials of the Riga Service of the Riga Administration of the State Border Guard initiated administrative violation proceedings against one Japanese and one Nigerian citizen according to Section 68.6 of the Immigration Law. Persons worked in a football club as a professional football player without the right to employment. Also, the border guards initiated an administrative violation process according to the first part of Section 68.5 of the Immigration Law against the board member of the relevant football club for employing persons without the right to employment.
On the other hand, on Monday, July 6, officials of the Vidzeme Service of the Riga Administration of the State Border Guard initiated four administrative violation proceedings under Section 68.6 of the Immigration Law against two Japanese, one Tunisian and one Brazilian citizen.
Last year, one athlete and two members of the board were held administratively responsible for employment violations, and in 2024, 16 athletes and four members of the board.
We remind you that according to the eighth part of Section 37 of the Labor Law, a foreigner may be employed only if he or she has been granted the right to employment, which is certified by a corresponding entry in the visa or residence permit issued to the foreigner, except for the cases laid down in laws and regulations when a certification regarding the right to employment with a specific employer and in a specific speciality (occupation) is not required.
Section 68.6 of the Immigration Law stipulates that a fine from twenty-eight to one hundred and forty fine units shall be applied for violation of employment conditions, if committed by an employed foreigner.
On the other hand, Section 68.5 of the Immigration Law. the first part states that for the employment of one or more persons (up to five persons), if the relevant person has the right to stay in the Republic of Latvia, but has not been granted the right to employment and their necessity is determined by this law, a fine from twenty-eight to eighty-six fine units shall be applied to natural persons or a board member, depriving the board member of the right to hold certain positions in commercial companies or without it.