Salaries
Session: The 15th Riigikogu, 6th Session, Information Hour
Date: 2025-10-08 16:11
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 19
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 14m
AI Summaries: 19/19 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
Minister of the Interior Igor Taro responded to an interpellation by Riigikogu member Vadim Belobrovtsev concerning the salaries of rescue workers and police officers. Belobrovtsev highlighted the dissatisfaction of frontline workers with the government's planned salary increase of up to 10%, noting that this is ridiculously small, considering the 40% inflation over the last two years. He also emphasized that employees lack certainty regarding the continuation of salary increases in the following years (2027, 2028), which is why a demonstration is forthcoming. The rescue workers' original goal was to achieve a salary equivalent to 1.2 times the Estonian average wage. Minister Taro confirmed that the administrative area of the Ministry of the Interior received 28.9 million euros for increasing the wage fund, which was the maximum achievement possible given the current budgetary situation. He explained that the 10% average growth in the wage fund allows agency heads to direct a larger increase (over 10%) to those positions where the salary is most critical. Furthermore, the minister pointed out that the abolition of the tax hump positively affects those receiving the average wage, such as rescue workers, thereby increasing their disposable income. Taro commended the rescue workers for the demonstration, which keeps the topic relevant, and confirmed that he is also aware of concerns regarding working conditions (especially 24-hour shifts). He could not give written promises for long-term, multi-year salary increases but affirmed the government's commitment to revitalizing the economy so that better salary increases could be ensured in the future. Lauri Laats raised the issue of wage poverty in a supplementary question, to which the minister replied that the 10% increase exceeds the average salary increase of the last eight years (6.6%).
Decisions Made 1
No decisions were made
Most Active Speaker
Vadim Belobrovtsev was the most active questioner, posing detailed questions about the inadequacy of the pay rise, high inflation, and the lack of long-term stability. (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 addressing the minister to discuss the issue of salary increases for rescuers and police officers, noting that although a raise of up to 10% was previously agreed upon, the rescuers are dissatisfied with it because they lack long-term security, and the proposed increase falls short of their expectations (which is the Estonian average salary multiplied by 1.2). Consequently, they will be participating in tomorrow's demonstration, and he asks whether the government's offer is sufficient or if the situation should be taken more seriously.
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.
Siseminister Igor Taro
AI Summary
Minister of the Interior Igor Taro expressed satisfaction that the Ministry of the Interior’s area of government secured 28.9 million euros for increasing the salary fund during budget negotiations. He noted this was an exceptionally difficult achievement, given the cuts faced by most other ministries. Taro emphasized that this signals the importance of internal security. He also confirmed that while a one-time salary increase will not solve all concerns, he stands alongside the rescuers regarding working conditions, particularly the issue of maintaining the 24-hour shift. He stressed the necessity of continuing to find solutions through cooperation rather than 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.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev is criticizing the government's short-sightedness concerning public sector wage hikes, arguing that the recent 10% increase is laughably inadequate when compared to 40% inflation over the past two years. He is demanding a strategy for rescue workers, police officers, and teachers that provides long-term vision and stability, extending even into 2027 and 2028.
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.
Siseminister Igor Taro
AI Summary
Interior Minister Igor Taro stressed that while the 10% average increase in the wage fund does not meet the expectations of the trade unions, it represents the maximum possible outcome under the current circumstances. He noted that institutional leaders have been instructed to direct the larger pay increase toward frontline positions where the need is most critical, adding that the income of employees with lower and average wages will be further increased by the government's decision to abolish the tax hump.
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.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar offered his thanks and then, acting as moderator, yielded the floor to his colleague, Lauri Laats, so that he could ask a 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.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats emphasizes the invaluable contribution of rescuers and police officers in ensuring national security, but draws attention to the fact that they are living in wage poverty. He asks the minister whether the entire system should not be fundamentally reviewed, given that even the promised increase in the payroll budget will not lift these critically important workers out of poverty.
Siseminister Igor Taro
AI Summary
Interior Minister Igor Taro emphasizes the importance of the internal security sector and acknowledges that although this year's 10% increase in the wage fund exceeds the average growth of 6.6% over the last eight years, it is not sufficient to ensure adequate compensation for rescuers, adding that motivation also depends on other factors, such as work organization and the possibility of holding multiple positions, and welcomes the rescuers' upcoming demonstration aimed at keeping the issue in focus.
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's message was purely procedural, confining himself to a brief remark that the speaker's time had begun.
Igor Taro
AI Summary
Igor Taro expressed deep gratitude to the organizers of the demonstration, emphasizing the exemplary and flawless execution of the event.
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.