Cultural Workers' Salaries
Session: The 15th Riigikogu, 6th Session, Information Hour
Date: 2025-10-15 15:26
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 21
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 13m
AI Summaries: 21/21 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The third question in the Riigikogu concerned the topic of cultural workers' salaries, which was presented to Minister of Culture Heidy Purga by Riigikogu member Helmen Kütt. Kütt began with a sharp comparison, highlighting that the average salary for nurses and midwives has risen by 67% over five years, while the minimum salary for cultural workers with higher education has increased by only 23%, reaching 1,600 euros. She also cited the low median salary (1,640 euros) for top musicians in an internationally renowned symphony orchestra, as pointed out by Olari Elts, and asked how the minister explains such "crying material devaluation and inequality," fearing protests similar to those in Lithuania.
Minister Purga responded that a 10% increase in the wage bill for the 3,600 people working under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Culture is a good result given the current budget situation. She emphasized that the ministry's goal in the "Culture 2030" development plan is for the average salary of cultural workers to reach 90% of the Estonian average salary by 2030. Purga explained that the heads of the institutions have given a clear signal that they prefer differentiating the wage bill rather than a massive, blanket increase in the minimum wage, as fewer and fewer people are earning the minimum. In a follow-up question, Kütt inquired about the minister's plans to change the minimum wage system for cultural workers, which was agreed upon with TALO (Estonian Association of Cultural Workers' Trade Unions) in 2001. The minister confirmed that she is aware of the need for a bilateral agreement to change the system and that a discussion on how best to motivate cultural workers is necessary. Madis Kallas, who posed an additional question, inquired why cultural workers' salaries have not been advocated for as strongly as teachers' salaries. Purga replied that the salaries of teachers, rescuers, police officers, and cultural workers have always been raised together, and the 10% increase in the wage bill was the maximum that could be agreed upon in the government, also covering coaches and the leaders of song and dance festival collectives.
Decisions Made 1
No decisions were made
Most Active Speaker
Helmen Kütt (misc.) was the most active speaker, presenting detailed comparative salary statistics and pressing the minister regarding the financial undervaluation of cultural workers, while demanding concrete steps to modify the wage agreement reached with TALO.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Riigikogu member Helmen Kütt submitted an interpellation to Minister of Culture Heidy Purga regarding the salaries of cultural workers. This was the third item on the agenda during the parliamentary session, underscoring the topic's significance in the broader social and political debate. The interpellation sought clarification on the government's plans and specific measures designed to improve the income and recognition of those employed in the cultural sector. For a long time, the wages of cultural workers in Estonia have symbolized underfunding and insufficient appreciation, making Helmen Kütt's inquiry direct pressure on the government to present concrete solutions. Minister of Culture Purga was required to explain how the ministry intends to ensure the sustainability and labor market competitiveness of the cultural sector, especially given the rising cost of living and the necessity of maintaining a high standard of cultural life in Estonia. The interpellation thus represented a crucial step toward addressing the cultural sector's wage issues at the level of the Riigikogu.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar announced that the third item on the agenda was a question to be posed by Riigikogu member Helmen Kütt to Minister of Culture Heidy Purga concerning the wages of cultural workers, and subsequently yielded the floor to Ms. Kütt.
Helmen Kütt
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The speaker, in a question addressed to the Minister of Culture, highlighted the sharp wage gap in the culture sector, contrasting the salary increases of the minister and cultural workers. He started by comparing the salary increase of nurses and midwives (67% over five years, reaching 2,832 euros), but stressed that, simultaneously, the Minister of Culture's own salary had risen by 46% (to 7,661 euros plus bonuses). In contrast, the minimum wage for cultural workers with higher education has only grown by 23%, reaching 1,600 euros and set to be 1,720 euros next year. According to the speaker, this inequality points to the blatant material undervaluation of employees in the cultural sphere. As a specific example, he highlighted that the median salary for top musicians in the internationally renowned symphony orchestra (ERSO), who have trained for decades, is only 1,640 euros. The questioner demanded an explanation from the minister as to how he justifies such inequality and the undervaluation of cultural workers. Furthermore, the speaker expressed concern that Estonia might soon face similar public protests, which, for instance, led to the resignation of the Minister of Culture in Lithuania. He asked the minister directly whether he feared similar political consequences.
Helmen Kütt
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helmen Kütt is drawing the Minister of Culture's attention to the glaring inequality and undervaluation of cultural workers' salaries compared to other sectors and the Minister's own income. She cites the low earnings of top musicians as an example, and asks for an explanation regarding this situation, simultaneously warning of the risk of protests and the Minister's resignation, similar to what was seen in Lithuania.
Kultuuriminister Heidy Purga
AI Summary
The speaker began their address by correcting the previous discussion, pointing out that the debate had overlooked the topic of Riigikogu members' salaries, its indexation, and the role of expense compensations. They then focused on the goal of the Culture 2030 development plan, which stipulates that the average salary for cultural workers should reach 90% of the Estonian average wage. Although the final outcome can only be assessed in 2030, the speaker conceded that the progress made so far could have been better. Despite the challenging state budget situation, the speaker considers the 10 percent increase in the wage fund for the 3,600 cultural and sports institution employees under the ministry’s jurisdiction to be a positive result. However, the primary focus when distributing the salary increase was not so much on raising the minimum wage as it was on salary differentiation. Discussions held with the heads of various institutions highlighted the need to grant institutional leaders greater flexibility to motivate their subordinates, thereby setting cultural workers' salaries apart from other public sector pay models. This strategic emphasis on differentiation has also yielded results. For instance, according to the head of the National Library, the minimum wage increase affected only 30 people—a clear indication that fewer and fewer people are receiving the minimum wage. This confirms that differentiating the wage fund was the right approach and helps ensure that cultural workers' salaries are moving above the minimum threshold.
Kultuuriminister Heidy Purga
AI Summary
Culture Minister Heidy Purga began by referencing the issue of Riigikogu members' salaries and expense allowances, but subsequently shifted focus to wage increases within the cultural sector. She noted that the objective of the "Culture 2030" strategy is for cultural workers' salaries to reach 90% of the Estonian average by the year 2030. Furthermore, she stressed that when implementing the 10% increase in the wage fund, greater importance was placed on differentiation at the level of institutional management to motivate employees, rather than simply raising the minimum wage.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar made a brief procedural remark, yielding the floor to the next speaker and commencing their allotted time.
Kultuuriminister Heidy Purga
AI Summary
Minister of Culture Heidy Purga stressed that the small number of minimum wage recipients is a clear sign that fewer and fewer people have to settle for the lowest wage level.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
This specific excerpt of speech does not contain substantive political discussion; rather, it is purely a procedural intervention during a Riigikogu session. The speaker, who is likely acting as the session chair, addressed Member of Parliament Helmen Kütt directly to give her the floor. The primary goal was to ensure the smooth running of the session and allow Kütt to participate in the debate. The sole and main point of the address was directed at Kütt, confirming that she had permission to ask a clarifying question. This suggests that there was an ongoing debate or presentation beforehand, regarding which the MP sought further clarification. The brief and direct address highlights the organizational aspect of parliamentary work, where the chair regulates speeches and ensures the proper order for submitting questions. In summary, this short fragment does not represent the substance of the Riigikogu debate but rather illustrates how sessions are managed and how members of parliament are given the opportunity to actively participate in discussions. Substantive positions and political arguments were absent in this specific passage, which focused solely on granting the floor.
Helmen Kütt
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The speaker began their address by confirming the figures presented by the Minister of Culture regarding the minimum wage increase for cultural workers, which has reached 1,600 euros and is expected to rise to 1,720 euros next year. They then immediately moved on to the main issue concerning the ministry's intention to change the salary system for cultural workers. Referring to the Minister's earlier statement, the speaker emphasized that the Minister considers the current minimum wage system—paid from the ministry's budget—to be inefficient, noting that it "no longer works or makes anyone happy," and plans to overhaul it next year. This system has notoriously been in effect since 2001, when it was implemented through an agreement between the Ministry of Culture and TALO (the Union of Cultural Workers' Trade Unions). In connection with the plan to restructure the system next year, the speaker posed a critical question regarding negotiations. They sought to know whether the ministry had already begun consultations with TALO or if this was only planned for the coming year before submitting proposals to the government. It was stressed that such a fundamental change definitely requires TALO's approval, as otherwise, a crucial "lever of power" used to compare and ensure future wage increases would be lost.
Helmen Kütt
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helmen Kütt confirms the accuracy of the salary increase figures for cultural workers and inquires with the Minister of Culture about plans to modify the minimum wage system that has been in place since 2001, stressing the necessity of initiating negotiations with TALO, as eliminating the system could weaken the benchmark for salary hikes and diminish bargaining power.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
It must be noted that the submitted text is extremely short and substantively not a speech, but rather a procedural interjection during a Riigikogu (Estonian Parliament) session. It consists of only two sentences: "Thank you very much! Madam Minister, please!" This indicates that the speaker has finished their presentation or question and is now handing the floor over to the Minister, asking her to respond or present her position. Thus, the text lacks any substantive arguments, thematic discussions, or political positions that could be summarized. These phrases fulfill an important but purely technical role in parliamentary work—they regulate the order of speeches and maintain courtesy. "Thank you very much" is a polite acknowledgment of what preceded it, while "Madam Minister, please!" is a direct invitation for the Minister to approach the podium or respond. This brief address emphasizes the courteous and regulated nature of Riigikogu debates but offers no material for substantive analysis. In conclusion, it can be said that the sole purpose of the speech was to give the floor to the government representative, thereby concluding the previous stage of the discussion. Therefore, if one looks for the main arguments or themes in the speech, they will not be found here, as this is purely the act of the session chair or the previous speaker yielding the floor to the Minister.
Kultuuriminister Heidy Purga
AI Summary
Minister of Culture Heidy Purga explained the Ministry of Culture’s obligation to monitor salary conditions, noting that since staff within the administrative domain are increasingly being paid above the minimum wage, managers have signaled that the focus should shift from excessive minimum wage increases toward differentiation funds to motivate top-tier and support employees. She also emphasized the necessity of a broad-based discussion that would genuinely assist specific sectors and their staff.
Kultuuriminister Heidy Purga
AI Summary
The Ministry of Culture must constantly monitor the salary situation and opportunities within its area of governance, balancing the need to raise the minimum wage and allocate resources to the salary differentiation fund. The latter would provide institutional leaders with the flexibility to motivate specific employees, whether they are top talent or support staff. The speaker simultaneously acknowledged that the ministry is bound by an agreement concluded with TALO, from which unilateral withdrawal is not possible, thus requiring a bilateral solution. A key argument was that the number of people working within the Ministry of Culture’s remit who receive the minimum wage is constantly decreasing. For example, using the National Library as a case study, the minimum wage increase affected only 30 employees, and even in smaller institutions, such as the Sports Museum, no one may be earning the minimum wage anymore. The heads of the administrative area have given the ministry a clear signal that they do not want an excessive increase in the minimum [wage], as their employees already receive compensation significantly higher than the minimum. Therefore, in the speaker’s estimation, it is time to hold a substantive discussion about what truly helps employees. It must be considered what percentage the minimum wage increase should be for it to be effective. Perhaps it is necessary to look more specifically at different sectors—museums and performing arts institutions—and take into account the specific nature of the work to find more targeted salary solutions instead of a broad minimum wage increase.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The speaker began by addressing the Minister, raising a technical point. He requested that the Minister pause briefly between sentences while speaking into the microphone, as failure to do so results in audio dropouts, which prevent the members from clearly hearing the Minister's remarks. This was a purely procedural observation intended solely to ensure better audibility of the session. Following the technical note, the meeting proceeded with the agenda. The speaker announced that the next supplementary question would be posed by colleague Madis Kallas, thereby yielding the floor to him.
Madis Kallas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Madis Kallas raised the issue of the insufficient protection and prioritization of salaries for cultural workers holding higher education degrees. He highlighted a sharp contrast with teacher salary increases, which have always been a focus for the government. Furthermore, he proposed to the minister the idea of merging the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Culture for consideration, aiming to ensure that culture receives the same level of attention as education.
Madis Kallas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The issue of raising the minimum wage for highly educated cultural workers remains on the agenda in the Riigikogu. The speaker highlighted salary increases from previous years, noting both significant percentage growths (such as in 2018 and 2023) and years where salary increases were absent (including 2021, 2024, and 2025). Although it was conceded that the challenges vary, the speaker emphasized that the salary issue for cultural workers is primarily a matter of setting priorities. The main criticism directed at the minister concerned why the salaries of cultural workers have not been advocated for as strongly and consistently as those of teachers, which have always been a political priority for everyone. To resolve this inequality, the speaker proposed an idea that has also been raised in previous debates: the merging of the Ministry of Education and Culture. Such a structural change would help ensure that the cultural sector receives the same level of attention and resources as is justifiably allocated to education. Finally, the minister was thanked for their efforts in the context of the 2026 budget, but it was stressed that more could be done for culture and sports in several aspects.
Kultuuriminister Heidy Purga
AI Summary
The speaker emphasized that the national wage policy has traditionally addressed pay raises for teachers, cultural workers, rescuers, and police officers together, allocating funds for them from the common state budget. This time, the increase in the wage fund for all these professions was 10%, which also applied to cultural workers. Although the speaker acknowledged that cultural workers deserve higher pay, the 10% increase was the maximum that the government was able to agree upon given the current circumstances. This 9.9 million euro pay raise amount was distributed widely, covering institutions outside the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Culture, such as the National Archives and museum workers under the Ministry of Climate. In addition to cultural workers, it was important for the speaker to ensure a pay raise for coaches, whose salaries are composed of 50% club contribution and 50% state contribution. Raising the state-funded minimum has yielded positive results in the sports sector, evidenced by the growth in the number of coaches, the acquisition of professional categories, and the increase in training hours. Furthermore, the leaders of song and dance festival ensembles also received a pay increase. The speaker affirmed that important and intelligent people work in this field, and concluded that the 10% wage fund agreement is not a poor outcome in the current situation.
Kultuuriminister Heidy Purga
AI Summary
Culture Minister Heidy Purga confirmed that the public sector wage increase, which traditionally covers teachers, cultural workers, and rescuers, was set at 10% this time, amounting to 9.9 million euros. She noted that while cultural workers deserve a higher salary, this was the maximum agreement reached, an agreement that also extended to coaches and the leaders of Song Festival collectives. Furthermore, she expressed delight regarding the positive impact that raising coaches' salaries would have on the sports sector.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The address given in the Riigikogu (Estonian Parliament) regarding the matter at hand was brief and purely a procedural announcement, the purpose of which was to mark the conclusion of one specific item on the session's agenda. The content of the address focused on finalizing the consideration of the third question, confirming that the discussion of this particular topic had been exhausted within the parliament. This was a concluding statement delivered by the presiding officer or the rapporteur, signaling the progression through the session's agenda. The address contained no substantive debate, political argumentation, or presentation of viewpoints whatsoever. The primary and sole point was the formal confirmation that today's discussion concerning the third question had ended. Overall, this constituted a formal closure, confirming the Riigikogu's readiness to move on to the subsequent agenda items, and simultaneously marking the successful completion of this stage with an expression of gratitude.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked the audience and confirmed that the discussion of the third item on the agenda had thereby concluded.