Committee backs plan to let people pay in for social insurance coverage of 1991-1995 child care period

The Saeima's Social and Labour Affairs Committee on Wednesday gave conceptual support to amendments to the law "On State Social Insurance." The changes would allow certain groups of people to voluntarily make social insurance contributions so that time spent raising children without being formally employed could be counted toward their insurance record.

Who is affected

The proposal concerns people who, between January 1, 1991 and December 31, 1995, raised a child up to the age of eight and were not in an employment relationship during that time. Under the planned changes, these people would be given the option to make contributions themselves so that this period is included in their social insurance record.

Why it matters

In the early 1990s, following the restoration of independence, many parents raising young children were not formally employed, meaning this period has not previously counted toward their work and insurance record. This can affect things such as pension amounts and other social guarantees tied to insurance record length.

For now, the decision represents only conceptual support at the committee stage. The amendments still need to go through the further legislative process before they could take effect.