Wages and school lunches
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th sitting, press briefing
Date: 2025-06-04 15:54
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 12
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 12m
AI Summaries: 12/12 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
Member of the Riigikogu Vadim Belobrovtsev submitted a request for information to Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas regarding the funding of teacher salaries and school lunches. Regarding salaries, Belobrovtsev criticized the slow growth of the minimum teacher salary (especially the 0% increase for 2025) and asked what a realistic increase would be for 2026, considering the trade union's desire to raise the minimum to the level of the average Estonian salary (2184 euros). Minister Kallas explained that progress towards the target of 120% of the average salary will be achieved through increasing the differentiation fund (DF) (up to 24% by 2028), which will allow school administrators to pay salaries more flexibly and implement career models. She deemed the trade unions' proposed 20% increase to the minimum salary unrealistic, citing an uncertain economic forecast, and declined to name a specific number for 2026.
Regarding school lunches, Belobrovtsev pointed out that the state’s contribution (1 euro per student per day) has remained unchanged since 2018, despite high inflation. Minister Kallas emphasized that 1 euro is support for local governments, not the actual cost of school lunch. She noted that, given the difficulty in covering increasing costs, it is inevitable that parents’ contribution to paying for school lunches will increase (also citing internships in state schools). She did not promise an increase in the state’s contribution for 2026. Tõnis Lukas asked for clarification on the official budget request number from the Ministry of Education and Research, to which the Minister replied that calculations are still underway, but will be based on the goals set in the agreement to end the strike.
Decisions Made 1
Decisions were not made.
Most Active Speaker
Vadim Belobrovtsev was the most active speaker, posing two substantive questions (wages and school lunches) and later also a procedural question, as he did not receive a specific answer from the minister regarding the state's contribution to the financing of school lunches.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Five questions are being addressed in the Riigikogu to the Minister of Education and Research, Kristina Kallas. These questions are being asked by Riigikogu member Vadim Belobrovtsev, and the topics concern salaries and school meals.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev asked the minister if the Education Workers' Union's proposal to raise the teachers' minimum salary to 2,184 euros by 2026 was realistic. He further requested that the minister present the actually realistic figure for 2026, referencing previous growth and the coalition's promise to reach 120% of the Estonian average by 2027.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Kristina Kallas said that the teachers' salary support is composed of a minimum salary floor and a differentiation fund, and the 120% target will be achieved by increasing the fund up to 24% by 2028. This is because the differentiation of work tasks allows for salary variation, and the career model is set to be implemented in 2026. Furthermore, although the rise in the minimum salary floor aligns with the coalition agreement and the demands of the trade unions, the extent of this increase depends on economic growth and the results of the summer forecast.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanks [the previous speaker] and invites Vadim Belobrovtsev to ask a clarifying question.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev emphasizes that the minimum wage and the differentiation fund are two very different things. He demands a concrete answer regarding the salary increase, an explanation as to why the differentiation fund does not raise everyone's salary equally, and criticizes the funding for school catering—1 euro per day against the backdrop of inflation—asking whether and when it will increase, citing 2026 as an example.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Kristina Kallas said that the 1-euro school lunch is a subsidy provided by local governments to cover school lunch costs, not the actual cost of the lunch itself, and since costs are rising and resources are limited, parents often have to pay for the school lunch both in municipal schools and state schools.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanks [the assembly/previous speaker] and announces that the supplementary question will be asked by his colleague Tõnis Lukas.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Tõnis Lukas criticizes the failure to realize the post-election promise of raising teachers' salaries to 120% of the average wage, noting that neither this goal nor the salary increase needed to offset inflation is included in the new coalition agreement. He emphasizes the necessity of a strategy and warns of the risk of real wages declining. Finally, he asks what specific number has been officially written into the Ministry of Education and Research's budget request to the Ministry of Finance for next year's salary and minimum wage increases.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Education and Research Minister Kristina Kallas explains that the 24% increase in the wage fund is larger than required to cover the expenses of the teachers' career model, providing local governments and school administrators significantly more latitude and the right to decide on salary differentiation. Concurrently, supplementary calculations are being performed, and the ministry is proceeding with the objective of reaching an agreement to terminate the strike.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked everyone and concluded today's fifth item. Before we began addressing the sixth item, colleague Vadim Belobrovtsev raised his hand, as he has a question regarding the procedure of the sitting: Vadim Belobrovtsev, please proceed!
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Addressing the respected Chair of the session, the speaker put forward a very specific question: whether the state's shareholding would increase in 2026. Yet, the minister did not answer the question, focusing instead on the substance of the state's participation.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Lauri Hussar stressed that questions can be submitted to the minister in several ways—a written question, an interpellation, or via the information hour—and the aim of parliamentary debate is to focus on substance, not procedure.