Third Reading of the Draft Act amending the Health Insurance Act and related Acts (Prevention of Incapacity for Work) (Bill 377 SE)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 3rd sitting, plenary session
Date: 2024-04-16 14:12
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 15
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 36m
AI Summaries: 15/15 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The fourth item on the agenda concerned the third reading of Draft Act 377, initiated by the Government of the Republic, concerning the amendment of the Health Insurance Act and associated acts (Prevention of Incapacity for Work). Discussions were opened by Arvo Aller on behalf of the EKRE faction. The core of the draft act is the possibility of continuing work after sick leave under adapted conditions—either part-time or by performing lighter duties—based on a voluntary agreement between the employee and the employer for joint work, arising after two months (60 days) of sick leave. A broader package of amendments is also addressed, which accompanies and specifies amendments to the Health Insurance Act, the Civil Service Act, the Health Insurance Fund Act (Tervisekassa), the Social Tax Act, the Income Tax Act, the Employment Contracts Act, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, and the Work Ability Allowance Act, including the transposition of European Union Directive 2022/431.
Decisions Made 2
Bill 377 has been enacted into law.
The sitting is extended until the agenda is completed, but not later than 14:00.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was pid UgFd274QJi4; his/her position is "other" (not belonging to the left-right faction). He/She primarily represented specific interests, focusing on the theme of maintaining flexibility and work capacity, and discussed the impact of disability prevention and occupational health requirements at the employer and state levels.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi opened the fourth item on the agenda, Draft Act 377 for its third reading, which concerns the amendment of the Health Insurance Act and related acts for the purpose of preventing incapacity for work, and the floor is now opened for debate, beginning with a speech by Arvo Aller on behalf of the EKRE faction before the Riigikogu.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The proposal expands the Health Insurance Act: after 60 days of sick leave, an employee may continue working part-time or by performing lighter duties, based on their illness. Furthermore, council members will be able to participate in sessions remotely while on sick leave. This is a positive step and also includes the transposition of EU Directive 2022/431 into the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
He announced that three more minutes would be added to the speaking time.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Companies must undertake a health check before exposure to substances toxic to reproduction or other carcinogenic and mutagenic substances. Furthermore, they must retain the data generated from the last exposure to a carcinogen or mutagen for 40 years, and to a substance toxic to reproduction for 5 years, inform the Labour Inspectorate, prepare a separate risk analysis, and arrange a repeated health check every three years. The draft bill has reached its third reading, and the proposals put forth by the bankruptcy trustees are being discussed separately.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi expresses his thanks and proposes that Andre Hanimägi represent him, acting on behalf of and under the mandate of the Social Democratic Party faction.
Andre Hanimägi
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Andre Hanimägi stated that flexibility must be guaranteed in Estonia in both healthcare and the labor market: in cases of long-term sick leave, it must be possible to continue working with the support of the employer and the state, and receive assistance. Furthermore, the care allowance must be accessible to parents whose child is long-term ill, regardless of the diagnosis.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi thanks Andre, concludes the debate, and announces that the leading committee's proposal is to hold the final vote on Draft Bill 377.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme said she would take a ten-minute break before the vote.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi calls a ten-minute recess.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi declared the recess over, continued the plenary session, and put Bill 377 to the final vote. The bill concerns the amendment of the Health Insurance Act and related amendments to other acts (prevention of incapacity for work). He then requested that they take a position and cast their votes.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The Riigikogu passed Bill 377 into law (69 votes in favor, 0 against, 0 abstentions). The plan is to extend today’s sitting until the agenda is completed, but no later than 2 PM, due to two substantial items remaining on the docket, and Helle-Moonika Helme has been invited to speak before the vote.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
He is taking another ten-minute break before the vote.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi announced that the break would last ten minutes.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi announced that the recess requested by EKRE had ended, and we would now continue the plenary session. The Reform Party's proposal to extend the session until the agenda is exhausted, but no later than 2 p.m., will now be put to a vote.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Forty-seven members of the Riigikogu voted in favor of the proposal, 22 were against, and there were no abstentions; the session was extended until the agenda was exhausted, but no later than 2 PM, and a few minutes before noon, the Prime Minister of the Principality of Andorra arrives in the guests' gallery.