Agenda Profile: Riina Sikkut
Inquiry regarding the government's plans to increase immigration (no. 791)
2025-09-08
15th Riigikogu, 6th sitting, plenary session
Political Position
The central theme is the plans to increase immigration, which are closely linked to boosting productivity and tackling the labor shortage. The speaker (a social democrat) criticizes the government’s vague plans and the lack of concrete figures, emphasizing the need for long-term solutions that ensure Estonian language proficiency (such as study migration). This position is strongly policy- and results-driven, demanding strategic action to halt the decline in productivity and improve integration.
8 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker demonstrates deep knowledge of the labor market, productivity, and immigration policy, citing specific data such as the EU average productivity (65%, 75%), negative birth rate records, and 65,000 unemployed individuals. Special emphasis is placed on the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) development on the labor market, which will begin replacing positions held even by highly educated people (e.g., accounting, programming). This expertise is also based on the content of the OSKA report and previous discussions.
8 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The style is formal, analytical, and critical, emphasizing logical and numerical arguments, demanding quantitative answers from the minister instead of subjective assessments ("good"). The tone is concerned and demanding, especially regarding the decline in productivity and the failure of integration, which is referred to as an "exceptional warning sign." The speaker also uses a reference to International Literacy Day to underscore the importance of numbers and clarity.
8 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
The speaker is active in parliamentary work, having submitted an interpellation (No. 791) concerning immigration, in order to continue the discussions on productivity, study mobility, and integration that were left unfinished during the spring session. This demonstrates consistency in addressing the issue and a solid understanding of procedural rules (the Rules of Procedure and Internal Rules). The discussion is also linked to the topic of youth unemployment, which was on the agenda immediately preceding this.
8 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The primary criticism is aimed at the government and the Reform Party, particularly concerning their policies on immigration quotas and salary criteria. Critics point out the government’s desire to allow in roughly three times the official quota of skilled workers without formally amending the quota, arguing that this fails to address the underlying issues. Furthermore, the government is accused of seeking an easy fix through immigration exceptions instead of making the necessary effort to retrain the 65,000 unemployed individuals.
8 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
The speaker represents the Social Democrats, who submitted a formal query to address outstanding issues. Reference is made to the Social Democrats' previous proposal, made while they were in government, to establish sector-specific wage criteria, which demonstrates their willingness to offer alternative political solutions. The tone of engagement is rather demanding and critical, as they expect substantive answers from the Minister.
8 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
The focus is strongly at the national and European Union level, comparing Estonian productivity with the EU average and setting a target of 110% of the EU average. Regional focus is absent, with the exception of a general reference to taking the location of the unemployed into account during retraining.
8 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
The speaker emphasizes the urgent need to boost productivity, noting that prices have risen faster than productivity, and criticizes the regression of productivity relative to the EU average in recent years. Sector-specific wage criteria for foreign labor are supported to prevent the influx of low-wage labor that fails to increase productivity. Investment in the retraining of locally unemployed individuals is preferred over granting immigration exceptions.
8 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
The most crucial social issue is integration, which is widely considered a failure, along with ensuring Estonian language proficiency in service provision, education, and healthcare. Immigration is primarily addressed from the standpoint of economic and linguistic integration, stressing that foreign workers cause language conflicts when accessing services. Educational migration is viewed as a solution that guarantees a workforce proficient in Estonian.
8 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The main focus is changing immigration policy and related legislation (quotas, exceptions, salary criteria). The speaker acts as the initiator (submitting a parliamentary query) and demands clear numerical plans from the government regarding reception capacity. Study migration is preferred as a long-term solution that does not require exceptions or the relaxation of salary criteria.
8 Speeches Analyzed