Dombrava and Briškens clash over need for foreign labor in Latvia's economy
In a debate on migration hosted by the show "Tiešs jautājums", Interior Minister Jānis Dombrava and MP Kaspars Briškens disagreed on whether Latvia's economy needs foreign workers.
A new debate show, "Tiešs jautājums" ("A Direct Question"), focused its first episode on migration, bringing together Interior Minister Jānis Dombrava of the National Alliance and MP Kaspars Briškens of the Progressives.
Dombrava argued that the idea Latvia must bring in large numbers of foreign workers to keep its economy running is a myth. According to the minister, the push for cheap foreign labor reflects the interests of certain employers who want to pay workers less and, in his words, effectively exploit them. He said this conclusion was reached during the work of a parliamentary investigative commission.
Briškens, a former transport minister, pushed back, pointing out that there are sectors where Latvia genuinely cannot manage without foreign labor.
About the show
"Tiešs jautājums" is a new series of political debate broadcasts launched by Jauns.lv ahead of the upcoming elections. The show invites representatives of political parties seeking seats in the next Saeima to discuss issues that will need to be addressed by the newly elected parliament and government after October 3.
Each episode follows a simple format: one topical issue and two representatives from different parties debating it, while an independent expert assesses their arguments off-camera. Migration was chosen as the debate series' opening topic.
