There are moments when you realize —
if you don’t do it yourself, maybe no one else will.
The idea for LAB-NO – Latvian Support Association in Norway was not born at a conference or around a strategy table.
It grew out of everyday life.
From conversations with fellow Latvians.
From situations where people felt confused, uncertain, or simply alone.
One evening, I came home from work and said:
I will establish an association.
There was no perfect plan.
No secured funding.
There was only a strong conviction that Latvians in Norway need a structured, responsible, and legally sound support platform.
And that is how LAB-NO came to life.
REALITY WE SEE EVERY DAY
Living and working in Norway, I have witnessed:
• Workplace disputes where people do not know their rights
• Uncertainty regarding employment contracts, dismissals, and wages
• Misunderstandings with public authorities
• Situations where what is missing is simply clear information in Latvian
Often the problem is not bad intent.
The problem is:
lack of information, language barriers, and fear of taking action.
And that is exactly where an association is needed.
WE ARE ALREADY WORKING
Although LAB-NO is currently in the establishment process
(the founding documents were submitted on 24 February),
our work has already begun.
At this stage we are:
• Providing consultations on employment law matters
• Helping assess workplace dispute situations
• Offering practical support in communication with employers
• Explaining Norwegian legislation in a clear and understandable way
• Assisting with document preparation and structured action planning
We do not take on responsibilities we are not legally permitted to assume.
We do not exceed the boundaries set by law.
We operate responsibly and ethically.
But we also do not stand aside.
WHY DID WE START BEFORE FORMAL REGISTRATION?
Because problems do not wait for bureaucracy.
If someone is facing a workplace conflict today,
they cannot wait a month for registration to be completed.
If a family has questions about relocation or children’s education,
answers are needed now.
An association is not just a legal status.
It is responsibility in action.
LAB-NO is being established as an independent, non-political, non-profit organization with a clear purpose —
to provide informational, practical, and social support to Latvian nationals and other immigrants in Norway.
OUR VISION
We aim to:
• Build a safe and structured support platform for Latvians in Norway
• Strengthen legal awareness within the community
• Promote responsible communication with authorities and employers
• Help individuals defend their rights correctly and professionally
• Create a community where support is the norm, not the exception
LAB-NO was not created as an ambition or a project.
It arose from necessity.
From the understanding that we need a structure capable of combining
humanity with legal precision.
A PERSONAL NOTE
I do not know how large this association will grow.
I do not know how complex this journey will be.
But I do know that it is being built with genuine intention and responsibility.
And sometimes, that is enough to begin.
LAB-NO is on its way.
And we have already started working.
Respectfully,
Armands Reinfelds
Founder of LAB-NO