Bringing in foreign labor
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th sitting, information briefing
Date: 2025-05-07 15:47
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 10
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 15m
AI Summaries: 10/10 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The central topic was the introduction of foreign labor and the related questions of long-term sustainability for the labor market and economy. The question was posed to the Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications, Erkki Keldo, by Member of Parliament Tõnis Lukas. The discussion highlighted that the Estonian economy needs skilled labor from abroad, but at the same time emphasized that importing cheap labor can harm local workers and the long-term sustainability of society. In addition, the role of the education system was discussed, including reform of vocational education and identifying labor market needs and bottlenecks based on OSKA forecasts. Advocates of the topic stressed that problems need to be solved on a larger scale: with a strong, training-based investment and controlled immigration policy, rather than simply changing quotas.
Decisions Made 1
No decisions were made.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Member of Parliament Tõnis Lukas (Isamaa), who has a right-wing political background. His participation focused on clarifying questions and discussion, covering demographic and birth rate policies, as well as skilled labor and vocational education topics, and he clearly represented a position pertaining to criticism of a single opposition member or a third governing coalition.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Riigikogu submits its fifth question to Erkki Keldo, the Minister of Economic Affairs and Industry; the questioner is Tõnis Lukas; the topic is the bringing in of foreign labor.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
They emphasize that immigration and emigration are closely linked to the labor market, vocational and higher education are not often aligned with the needs of the labor market, and bringing in cheap labor is short-term and problematic in terms of sustainability, and they call on the government to present a clear plan for the development of the workforce.
Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
To increase the value added in Estonia's economy, we do not intend to bring in cheap labor or change the existing 0.1% quota, and we will focus on increasing the incomes of Estonian people through vocational education reform and OSKA forecasts, and if necessary we will engage external experts; Magnetic MRO, Incap, and Viljandi manufacturing companies show how the involvement of skilled labor increases value added and enables higher wages.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanked and invited Tõnis Lukas to submit a clarification question.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Tõnis Lukas emphasizes that raising awareness of the importance of population and birth-rate policy is welcome, and he is pleased that the plan to change the inflow quota for labor has been dropped, notes that existing exemptions allow the entry of skilled workers and top specialists, cites examples of high salaries, and asks how language training and integration will be carried out for 80,000 workers who do not speak Estonian when new workers are brought in.
Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
Erkki Keldo stressed that in Estonia there has been a 0.1% quota with exemptions, and the economy needs controlled migration, through which workers with specific skills (for example in the IT, mechatronics and manufacturing sectors) would be brought here, with a valid employment contract and a background check, to address the skilled labor shortage, increase added value, and invest in vocational education, while avoiding mass immigration.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanks and announces that Martin Helme will submit an additional question.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme claims that Estonia has had a positive migration balance for a long time and that low wages force the import of cheap labor, and he directly asks what this wage requirement is, on the basis of which exemptions for skilled labor are established.
Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo
AI Summary
Erkki Keldo said that Estonian industry is facing a severe labor shortage, and even if all the people trained in the relevant field were to work, shortages would remain; bringing IT workers is challenging, because there is a 1.5× gross salary requirement (about 3,000 euros), and one must take into account regional diversity and investments, such as ABB and Viljandi County examples, and cooperation with entrepreneurs and experts for the growth of the economy.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman, Lauri Hussar, thanks and announces that he will conclude the consideration of today's fifth question.