In Youth Law, youth work is defined as a set of planned youth-oriented practical measures that ensure the implementation of youth policy, the development of value orientation of young people and the consolidation of the values of the common human being.

The basic objectives of youth work that are defined in Youth Law are:

1. to support and promote initiatives of young people, creating favourable conditions for their intellectual and creative development;
2.  to provide young people with the opportunity to acquire life-skills, knowledge and competences through non-formal education;
3. to enable young people to make effective use of their free time;
4. to provide young people with access to information relevant to their needs.

Once a year the Ministry of Education and Science of Latvia studies the situation in municipalities (surveying municipalities), asking representatives of municipalities to send information about youth work at the local level – institutions involved, planning documents developed, NGOs active in the field, main statistical data about youth, etc.

According to the survey done at the beginning of 2019, in total 356 persons involved in youth work (youth affairs specialists, youth workers and others) are employed in local municipalities.

There are no quality standards for youth work and youth workers, but there are occupational profile standards for youth affairs specialists and youth workers (at the start of 2020 the standards will be renewed). Standards define needed competencies, education, and experience for those working in these professions.

The education and training of persons engaged in youth work in Latvia is regulated by the Cabinet of Ministers Regulation No. 1047 “Procedure for Training of Youth Affairs Specialists” (hereinafter - Cabinet of Ministers Regulations No. 1047) and the objectives, which are aimed at education and qualification of persons involved in youth work, are defined in the Youth Policy Implementation Plan 2016-2020. year.

A youth affairs specialist is a person who plans, carries out and coordinates youth work. He works with those involved in youth policy. Develops proposals at the local level for the development of youth policy, implements and coordinates information and education activities, projects and programs in the field of youth policy, promotes civic education of young people, promotes youth volunteering and participation in decision-making and public life, advises young people, the development and implementation of projects and programs, and contributes to the personal development of young people. 

A youth worker is a person who works with youth, involving young people in the implementation and evaluation of youth work; provide activities and useful leisure activities for young people at the local level; participates in the implementation of international events and projects, advises young people on topical issues; ensure the availability and circulation of information on youth policy issues.

As Latvia at the moment does not have a formal system for the recognition of competences, two EU proposed tool's - Youthpass un Europass, are usually used.

On 6 July 2007, the commission of the program "Youth in Action" has approved Youthpass (Youth Passport) implementation. Youthpass is an initiative of SALTO Resource Centre, which main task is to develop a Europe-wide recognition of a document that facilitates the awareness and recognition of the skills and knowledge acquired within the EU's non-formal education program "Youth in Action".

Youthpass certificates are currently available for all the participants of the submitted projects of youth exchange and training courses, as well as the participants of Volunteering projects. The project implementers are obliged to inform the involved participants of the project about their rights to obtain Youthpass, as well as provide Youthpass issuance for each participant requesting it.

Youthpass projects may help young people to analyse their learning process and results. Agency for International Programs for Youth implemented its various training provides information on Youthpass   (the use of the learning process in the organization of projects, eight core competencies, Youthpass significance, etc.). Latvian young people's interest in obtaining this certification is increasing each year.

In 2019 almost 20,000 project participants have received Youthpass certificates in Latvia since the introduction of Youthpass. Under the program "Youth in Action" (2007 to 2013) in Latvia under 8700 certificates were issued.  

(From the Youth Wiki)