Why Latvian citizens are emigrating and how to encourage their return to Latvia will be the topic of a discussion scheduled April 4 by the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration in Rīga.

The meeting is part of the efforts of a work group studying the emigration issue. The work group, formed by the secretariat, is scheduled to report to the government by June 20 and to offer a specific plan for encouraging people to return to Latvia.

In recent years, some 40,000 to 50,000 Latvian residents have left Latvia in search of work, according to the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia. Many have headed to Ireland.

The meeting is schedued at 16:00 hours in the secretariat, Elizabetes ielā 20, Rīga. Refreshments will be available after the discussion, when it will also be possible to meet with Minister Oskars Kastēns.

Persons interested in participating in the discussion are asked to e-mail the secretariat at pr@integracija.gov.lv.