More and more skilled German laborers are working on Latvian building sites. The construction industry is booming in this recent European Union member, especially in the capital Riga, where new office towers, residential complexes and homes are springing up. German companies are profiting from the boom, among them the Nordplan company from Kiel, which is constructing two office buildings. As subcontractors on the building site, numerous German firms are sending their own workers to Riga. Roofers, masons, and electricians are in short supply on the Latvian job market. The German companies remain competitive in part because of their higher productivity and standards, which gives them an edge over the cheaper local firms. Karl Harenbrock was there to see how work was progressing.