The Latvian Public Employment Service (PES) has successfully produced an implementation plan to develop an integrated quality management system. This was achieved thanks to the contributions of peer PES representatives and experts through a PES Network Mutual Assistance Project.

© PES Network

A recently concluded PES Network Mutual Assistance Project (MAP) has enabled the Latvian PES (SEA) to exchange and learn from other PES as it makes progress towards a more integrated quality management system. A MAP enables any PES to request and receive targeted support and advice from peer PES on a specific issue they are facing.

The Latvian PES already had a good foundation upon which to build, including a mission, vision, annual work plan, process mapping, risk management system and quality management expertise. The MAP prioritised three strands: delivering customer-orientation in the delivery of services; increasing staff empowerment and autonomy; and enhancing internal communication to promote learning between local offices.

Through peer expert advice from colleagues in the Austrian PES (AMS), Belgian regional PES of Flanders (VDAB) and Estonian PES (Töötukassa), the MAP identified priority actions, implementation timelines and success criteria for each of the three strands.

Evita Simsone, Head of the Latvian PES, highlights the significant benefits of the process: “The greatest value of the project was that the experts delved directly into the Latvian PES situation and provided expertise, visions and recommendations for improving operations in specific cases. We greatly appreciate the opportunities provided by the PES Network to learn from each other.”

Speaking at the final workshop, Eva Lapsina, the Latvian Advisor for European PES Affairs (AFEPA), also overviewed the value of these exchanges: “We have now more ideas to implement in our organisation. We will need time and resources, but we are willing to do that.”

The Latvian PES will be able to use EU funds to support capacity-building and modernisation of PES services. In the 2021-2027 programming period, EUR 6.8 million of European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) are available - together with national co-financing the total amount is EUR 8 million.

Moreover, EU Funds also provide financial support for active labour market policy measures (ALMP) implemented by PES. In the 2021-2027 period, the Latvian PES will manage projects worth EUR 115 million of ESF+ (or EUR 135 million in total) aimed at raising qualifications and skills, supporting integration into the labour market, promoting longer and better working lives, and creating more job opportunities for youth.

In the 2014-2020 period, the Latvian PES was a financial beneficiary to several ESF projects, in total worth EUR 218 million of ESF funding (or EUR 273 million together with national funding).

The Latvian Mutual Assistance Project was launched in July 2022 and concluded in February 2023. It included three workshops and intervening planning meetings, covering issues such as building processes from the customer perspective and overcoming negative staff perceptions of quality management. Cooperation between the Latvian PES and its peers is set to continue beyond the conclusion of the MAP.