Salaries of police officers and rescue workers
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 3rd sitting, information briefing
Date: 2024-02-14 14:31
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 10
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 12m
AI Summaries: 10/10 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
MP Vadim Belobrovtsev submitted an inquiry to Minister of the Interior Lauri Läänemets regarding the salaries of police officers, rescue workers, and border guards, citing the government's decision to leave PPA employees without a pay raise this year. Belobrovtsev highlighted the Prime Minister’s claims about freezing salaries until 2027 and compared the situation to the teachers' strike, which resulted in a salary increase. He asked the Minister for a clear message to PPA employees regarding their future pay and inquired how internal security workers, who are subject to a strike ban, can effectively convey their demands to the government.
Minister Lauri Läänemets admitted that no salary increase took place this year. However, he emphasized that the government has invested nearly 70 million euros in internal security, directing it primarily toward doubling police training and increasing the capacity of the Estonian Academy of Security Sciences. According to the Minister, this will help solve the workload problem, which is currently the number one concern for employees. Läänemets confirmed that the Social Democrats oppose freezing state employees' salaries for four years, and he will go to budget negotiations in the summer with a proposal to raise the salaries of police officers and rescue workers. When asked how to convey their message, the Minister strongly advised PPA employees to join a trade union, emphasizing the negotiating power of unions. In a supplementary question, Aleksandr Tšaplõgin criticized the government's logic that there is no money for rescue workers, yet officials are simultaneously being paid bonuses. The Minister responded that the Social Democrats have historically implemented the largest salary increases (e.g., 36% for rescue workers) and called upon the opposition to propose concrete tax solutions to find the necessary funds for a pay raise.
Decisions Made 1
No decisions were made
Most Active Speaker
Vadim Belobrovtsev, a member of the Riigikogu, was the most active speaker, posing two long and critical questions to the Minister of the Interior regarding the freezing of salaries for PPA employees and their rights. (Other)
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Member of the Riigikogu Vadim Belobrovtsev is submitting his third question to Minister of the Interior Lauri Läänemets regarding the salaries of police officers and rescue workers.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Belobrovtsev highlights the nationwide teachers' strike and the salary increase promised by the government, notes the freezing of PPA employees' salaries, and asks whether there will be a pay rise next year or not, and if the next increase won't happen until 2028.
Siseminister Lauri Läänemets
AI Summary
Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets stressed the importance of cooperation in internal security. He announced an investment of approximately 70 million euros for police and rescue training and for reducing the workload (including the Väike-Maarja driving track/autodrome). Furthermore, he promised a proposal for salary increases in the budget, expressing hope that a positive agreement regarding the pay of civil servants would be reached this summer.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar offered his thanks and asked Vadim Belobrovtsev to pose a clarifying question.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The speaker notes that the teachers’ strike was successful, securing an additional 5 million euros for salaries, which has allowed negotiations to begin concerning workload, working conditions, and the collective agreement. However, given that the law prohibits police officers, rescue workers, and border guards from striking, he asks what peaceful and legal methods they could use to convey their message to the government effectively and achieve tangible results.
Siseminister Lauri Läänemets
AI Summary
Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets is calling on people to join trade unions, stressing that the greater the membership, the stronger the union's influence. He also notes that rescuers, police officers, and Emergency Centre staff ensure public safety, and therefore, state wage increases must be fair and distributed equally among everyone.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar offers his thanks and requests a follow-up question, addressing Aleksandr Tšaplõgin.
Aleksandr Tšaplõgin
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Aleksandr Tšaplõgin is criticizing the government over its budget priorities, arguing that there is no money to raise the salaries of rescuers and police officers, but millions of euros are being spent on bonuses for officials, while those who actually do the work are paid below the average wage.
Siseminister Lauri Läänemets
AI Summary
Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets stated that raising the salaries of rescuers and police officers has been crucial, noting that the largest increases—36% and 17%—took place while certain parties were in government. However, finding further funding requires utilizing the state budget and tax amendments, and concrete solutions are expected from the opposition.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman thanks the audience and concludes the consideration of today's third item.