Salaries
Session: The 15th Riigikogu, 6th Session, Information Hour
Date: 2025-10-08 16:11
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 10
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 14m
AI Summaries: 10/10 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
Riigikogu member Vadim Belobrovtsev submitted an inquiry to Interior Minister Igor Taro regarding the salaries of rescue workers and police officers, emphasizing the dissatisfaction of frontline workers with the salary increase offered by the government. Belobrovtsev referred to the fact that although the government decided to raise the wage fund by up to 10%, this is insufficient considering the nearly 40% inflation over the last two years. He also highlighted the uncertainty regarding the salary policy for future years (2027/2028), which is the main reason for the planned demonstration by teachers and rescue workers.
Minister Igor Taro confirmed that the administrative area of the Ministry of the Interior received 28.9 million euros for increasing the wage fund during budget negotiations, which was his priority. He stressed that this was a significant achievement, as most ministries had to implement cuts. Taro conceded that the 10% increase would not solve all problems, but explained that institution heads have been instructed to direct a larger salary increase (over 10%) to where "the shoe pinches the most," i.e., frontline positions. In addition, the minister pointed out that the abolition of the tax hump will have the greatest percentage impact precisely on those receiving the average salary, including rescue workers, thereby increasing their actual income. In a clarifying question, Lauri Laats raised the problem of wage poverty faced by rescue workers and police officers and called for a comprehensive review of the system. Minister Taro thanked the rescue workers for keeping the topic alive and confirmed that the government is working to improve the economy so that better salary increases can be ensured in the future.
Decisions Made 1
No decisions were made
Most Active Speaker
Vadim Belobrovtsev was the most active speaker, presenting both the main question and a clarifying follow-up question, and keeping the focus on the inadequacy of the salary increase and the lack of a long-term strategy. He represented a member of the Riigikogu (other).
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar introduced the sixth item on the session's agenda, which was a question regarding salary posed by Riigikogu member Vadim Belobrovtsev to Minister of the Interior Igor Taro, and subsequently gave the floor to the questioner.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev is once again revisiting the issue of salaries for rescuers and police officers, noting that the government's proposed salary increase of up to 10% is insufficient to satisfy the employees. These workers were expecting a salary 1.2 times the Estonian average and are concerned about the lack of continuity, which is why they will be participating in a demonstration tomorrow. He then asks the minister whether he considers this protest to be appropriate.
Siseminister Igor Taro
AI Summary
Interior Minister Igor Taro expresses satisfaction that the salary fund for the Ministry of the Interior's area of governance was successfully increased by 28.9 million euros during budget negotiations, which signals the importance of internal security to the state, especially considering that most ministries were forced to make cuts. He acknowledges that a 10% salary increase will not solve all the concerns of the rescuers, and confirms that he has met with the head of the trade union to discuss working conditions in more detail, including the preservation of the 24-hour work schedule, emphasizing that further improvements must be achieved through cooperation, not confrontation.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked the previous speaker and then gave the floor to Vadim Belobrovtsev so that he could ask a clarifying question.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev is demanding a long-term vision and strategy from the government for the stable increase of salaries for rescuers, police officers, and teachers, including in 2027 and 2028. He emphasized that the recently promised 10% pay rise is ridiculously small against the backdrop of 40% inflation over the last two years and fails to provide people with the necessary sense of security.
Siseminister Igor Taro
AI Summary
Interior Minister Igor Taro explains that although the unions' maximum request was not met, the heads of the respective institutions have been instructed, when distributing the 10% average increase in the wage fund, to direct a larger raise toward areas where the shoe pinches the most. He also emphasizes that the government's tax decisions, particularly the abolition of the tax hump, provide recipients of the average wage (such as rescuers) with an additional significant increase in income, which ultimately brings the total salary increase result as close as possible to the desired level.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked those involved for the preceding matter and then procedurally gave the floor to his colleague Lauri Laats, who was scheduled to ask the next supplementary question.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats is criticizing both past and present governments for allowing rescuers and police officers to fall by the wayside and live in wage poverty. He stresses that their invaluable contribution to national security demands a systemic reassessment and a respectable wage, since a mere 10% increase in the salary budget will not lift them out of poverty wages.
Siseminister Igor Taro
AI Summary
Interior Minister Igor Taro stressed the critical importance of the internal security sector to society and praised the dignified work of the rescue workers, noting that although the government has made an effort to raise the salary fund by 10% this year (which exceeds the average of 6.6% over the last eight years), it is still insufficient. He also expressed support for the rescue workers' demonstration, stating that it helps keep the issue in the public eye.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar announced that he had concluded the consideration of today's sixth agenda item, which was the question.