some countries further differentiate the minimum wage by sectoroccupation eg japan and mexico and lower rates are sometimes set for workers on trainingapprenticeships and for disabled workers by contrast in a small countiy like latvia there are considerable practical difficulties of introducing geographic differentiation of minimum wages these difficulties combined with the large regional wage disparities in latvia underline the need to exercise great caution when deciding on acrosstheboard minimumwage adjustments in order to avoid negative employment effects especially in lagging regions more widespread collective bargaining would ensure better representation of worker interests in the wage setting process and remuneration in line with productivity for a larger number of workers