Sense of security
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th sitting, press briefing
Date: 2025-03-26 14:32
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 10
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 8m
AI Summaries: 10/10 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The discussion of the third question focused on security and the ability of people to cope during economically challenging times. Helmen Kütt raised the question of how to help those whose incomes have not grown or have actually fallen, and who have special needs, or whose employment and incomes are seasonal or unstable. The discussion took place against a backdrop of accelerating inflation, economic growth, and changes to the tax system, which hoped to contribute to higher net pay and reduced poverty. PM Kristen Michal, in response, pointed out that year-end bank forecasts and plans to correct taxes may increase the portion of money available in household budgets, and that increases to pensions and the minimum wage will help alleviate this year's challenges; it was also mentioned that the purpose of the income tax-free minimum and other tax benefits is to reduce poverty and make money accessible. The discussion also indicated that for the coming years, the processes will involve parliament and corresponding decisions must be adopted there. The second section focused on amendments to the employment contract law, which may affect wages and security, and about which there was a continuing discussion; it was concluded that the third question had been closed and further discussion would continue at the parliamentary level.
Decisions Made 1
Decisions were not made during this discussion. More detailed decisions may come up for debate in the Riigikogu in the future in connection with amendments to tax benefits and the Employment Contracts Act.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Helmen Kütt (pid P8tEHy2zY2A). Their political position on the spectrum: other.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Riigikogu member Helmen Kütt submits the third question to Prime Minister Kristen Michal on the topic of a sense of security.
Helmen Kütt
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helmen Kütt asks what concrete measures will be offered this year and what the message is to those whose incomes have not risen and whose real wages have fallen to 6% as inflation accelerates, including the continuation of the subsistence threshold, the ability of people with disabilities to make ends meet, and the abolition of unemployment benefits after finishing high school, and how these questions intersect with the 2026 budget, taking into account the already announced rise in pensions.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal said that next year the tax-free minimum will be raised and income tax will not be charged on the first euro, which will increase the net wages of low-income people and households' ability to make ends meet, and the rise in pensions and the minimum wage has helped reduce poverty.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair, Lauri Hussar, thanks and asks Helmen Kütt to pose a clarifying question.
Helmen Kütt
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helmen Kütt asked the prime minister why the government is planning amendments to the Employment Contracts Act that could fix the weekly workload at 10 hours (up to 40 hours by agreement) and make wages and income unpredictable, putting tens of thousands of workers' daily sense of security at risk.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal said that at the start of this year wages grew the fastest at the lower end, emphasized more flexible work with social guarantees, and said that amendments to the Employment Contracts Act will now be brought to Parliament for discussion, where they can be debated, and the Minister of Economic Affairs and Industry is responsible for it.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Speaker Lauri Hussar thanks the prime minister for keeping up the tempo and announces that his colleague Anti Allas will submit a supplementary question.
Anti Allas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Anti Allas stressed that security is not only about weapons, but also about coping, and asked whether the new government has a plan to implement targeted measures to help economically hard-pressed target groups — low-paid and unemployed, parents who educate their children, single parents, elderly people living alone, and university students — because the subsistence benefit does not cover their expenses.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Mihal noted that the rise in pensions and the minimum wage has reduced poverty, and the new steps, such as abolishing income tax from the first euro and raising the tax-free minimum to 700 euros, are socially just and mainly help people with lower incomes.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair, Lauri Hussar, thanks and ends today’s consideration of the third question.