LAMPA Conversation 2022: Nordic perspectives on enhancing labour market inclusion of the disabled people - how to leave no one behind both globally and in Latvia

As with multiple other countries in Europe, Latvia suffers from a lowering demographic trend. With many skilled citizens moving abroad, this has meant a shortage of labour in a multitude of economic sectors – both in so-called blue-collar and white-collar professions.

In order to respond to this and also to adhere to the United Nations’ Agenda 2030’s key principle of leaving no one behind, it is vital to intensify efforts to include people with disabilities in working life. Not only does this make sense economically, but it is also socially and morally the right thing to do.

This panel discussion brought together Nordic and Latvian experts to discuss what has been done in Latvia so far and how can these activities be further enhanced to create a truly inclusive labour market that can benefit from Nordic perspectives and experiences.

• Albin Falkmer - Director at the Swedish state-owned enterprise, Samhall
• Jukka Lindberg - Development Manager at the Finnish Vates Foundation
• Katrīna Sevruka - Senior expert at the Social integration state agency (SIVA)

Moderator: Dace Helmane - Director of the NGO Institute of Corporative sustainability and responsibility.

Arrangers: Nordic Council of Ministers Office in Latvia, Embassy of Finland in Latvia and Nordic Talks

LAMPA Conversation Festival in Latvia is a meeting place to exchange ideas and to seek understanding between people of diverse opinions, political viewpoints, and expectations.

This open-air democracy festival has been organized since 2015 in the small town of Cēsis in northeast Latvia. The eighth LAMPA Conversation Festival in the course of its two days, 1-2 July, offered more than 260 events dealing with various important topics: both practical and philosophical, global and local in Latvian, English, and Russian

The mission of the festival is to strengthen democracy and democratic conversation culture, foster civic engagement, and encourage a desire for lifelong learning in an ever-changing world. The festival strengthens the democratic conversation culture in Latvia and opens up policy-making processes to wider audiences.