Gender pay gap
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th sitting, press briefing
Date: 2025-04-23 15:27
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 10
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 7m
AI Summaries: 10/10 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The third question addressed the issue of the gender pay gap, emphasizing the importance of greater transparency and fair compensation for the same work and qualifications. Estonia’s continuing trend was highlighted: although the pay gap has been decreasing over time and last year’s figures were increasingly positive, a significant difference between women and men still remains, and Brussels has intervened with the pay transparency directive. The discussion focused on the rapid adoption of this directive as well as the need for substantive steps to help bring salaries to the same level fairly and understandably.
The second topic concerned the sharing of care and household work, or the reduction of the care gap. The Riigikogu pays attention to the proportion of unpaid work that falls on women’s shoulders and the impact this has on birth rates and children’s futures. Questions were raised about what specific steps the government plans to take to make the societal division of labor fairer and more equitable, and what role the state will play as an example in both family and working life.
Decisions Made 1
No decisions were made during the course of this discussion. (empty politician_id)
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Prime Minister Kaja Kallas (Reform Party), who represents the right-wing political spectrum. She put forward and continued answering questions, and warned against the implementation of several proposals and examples at the state level to reduce the pay gap and work-related risks.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The third question is posed by Riigikogu member Reili Rand to Prime Minister Kristen Michal, and the focus of the discussion is the gender pay gap.
Reili Rand
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Reili Rand emphasized that Estonia is one of the European countries with the largest pay gaps, and in 2023 women earned on average 13.1% less than men, which is a systemic problem and requires increasing pay transparency in the course of implementing the European Union directive, while at the same time asking why the government delays and when real steps will be taken.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal notes that the gender pay gap has significantly decreased, and stresses that for the same job and the same qualification, the same salary must be paid, and if the state has the opportunity to do so, this step must certainly be taken.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanks and asks Reili Rand to pose a clarifying question.
Reili Rand
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Reili Rand emphasizes that the gender pay gap and insufficient maintenance payments leave many Estonian women in the trap of inequality, and although the state expects childbirth and an economic recovery, it must solve this.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal stressed that the government is a partnership in which each party shares responsibility for decisions, and named reducing the wage gap and paying a fair wage for the same work to employees with the same qualifications and skills, addressed reducing stereotypes in education and elsewhere, and increasing gender representation on the boards of large companies starting from state-owned enterprises, and noted that the trend is positive and new proposals are expected to continue improving.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair, Lauri Hussar, thanks and announces that the supplementary question will be posed by colleague Züleyxa Izmailova.
Züleyxa Izmailova
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
I highlight the size of the unpaid care-work gap between Estonian women and men, and I ask what the government's plans are to reduce the burden of unpaid caregiving work in addition to the pay gap.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kristen Michal said that reducing the caregiving burden and the reconciliation of work and family life, and the equal distribution of caregiving duties, are as important as reducing the gender pay gap, and the state will take similar steps to achieve balance, because the share of fathers among recipients of parental allowance has indeed risen to about one fifth, but balance has not yet been achieved, and good ideas and proposals are awaited.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanks and declares that today's discussion of the third question has ended.