The Riigikogu supports enabling employers to pay voluntary sickness benefit to pregnant employees

Chancellor of Justice Ülle Madise made a proposal to bring the Social Tax Act, the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Health Insurance Act into conformity with the Constitution in the regard that they do not allow the employer to pay voluntary sickness benefit to pregnant employees.

In Madise’s opinion, the provisions that do not ensure that, in the event of sickness, pregnant employees have the right to a replacement income which is at least equivalent to that of other employees are in conflict with the Constitution. The Chancellor of Justice made a proposal to the Riigikogu to bring the relevant provisions of these Acts into conformity with the Constitution.

The Constitutional Committee and the Social Affairs Committee supported the proposal of the Chancellor of Justice that the provisions in the Acts that currently do not allow the employer to pay voluntary sickness benefit to pregnant employees be brought into conformity with the Constitution.

77 members of the Riigikogu supported the proposal of the Chancellor of Justice.

The President of the Riigikogu instructed the Social Affairs Committee to initiate a bill to bring the provisions of the Act into conformity with the Constitution.

The Riigikogu passed a Resolution

The Resolution of the Riigikogu “Appointment of Members of the Supervisory Board of the National Library of Estonia” (221 OE), submitted by the Cultural Affairs Committee, provides for the appointment of recognised experts of the operating areas of the National Library of Estonia Priit Pirsko and Raivo Ruusalepp as members of the Supervisory Board of the National Library of Estonia.

The Supervisory Board of the National Library of Estonia is the highest directing body of the national library which is composed of seven members. Three members of the Riigikogu and two recognised experts of the operating areas of the national library are appointed to the Board by the Riigikogu on the proposal of the Cultural Affairs Committee with the term of authority of four years. In addition, the Minister of Culture appoints a member to the Supervisory Board, and the Secretary General of the Riigikogu is a member of the Supervisory Board by virtue of their office.

69 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Resolution.

The Riigikogu concluded the first reading of two Bills

The Bill on Amendments to the State Budget for 2023 Act (214 SE), initiated by the Government, contains two types of amendments. First, the proposals arising from the reorganisations in ministries, which are connected with the Act on Amendments to the Government of the Republic Act and Other Acts. According to it, as of 1 July 2023, the Ministry of the Environment will be reorganised into the Ministry of Climate, the Ministry of Rural Affairs will be reorganised into the Ministry of Regional Affairs, and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications will be reorganised into the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Information Technology. Amendments will also be made in the areas of government of ministries. Second, proposals to amend the budget have been received from the areas of government. They were submitted to the Ministry of Finance this April.

The reorganisation of ministries will enable more effective division of roles and exchange of information between the governmental authorities connected with the fulfilment of strategic objectives. This will allow for more comprehensive provision of policy solutions and will increase the synergy between the areas of government. The reorganisation of the ministries is also based on a more general principle of the state reform which is to reduce duplication in state offices and to improve the quality and availability of public services. The reorganisation will also contribute to revising the state budget expenditure and to finding saving opportunities.

The Bill is in conformity with the State Budget Act under which, in order to amend the state budget without amending the total amount of funds, the Government may initiate a draft State Budget Amendment Act not later than two months before the end of the budgetary year.

During the debate, Aivar Kokk (Isamaa) and Martin Helme (Estonian Conservative People’s Party) took the floor.

The deadline for submission of motions to amend is 12 noon on 8 June.

The Bill on Amendments to the Income Tax Act and the Act on Amendments to the Social Welfare Act and the Income Tax Act (215 SE), initiated by the Government, will amend the principles for the allocation of income tax to local authorities. The Bill proposes that the income tax allocated from the state pension of a resident natural person in 2024 be increased to 2.5 per cent. At the same time, the income tax allocated from other taxable income – except for the mandatory and supplementary funded pension and gains derived from the transfer of property – will be reduced to 11.89 per cent.

During the debate, Aivar Kokk (Isamaa), Anti Allas (Social Democratic Party), Annely Akkermann (Reform Party) and Vadim Belobrovtsev (Centre Party) took the floor.

Isamaa Parliamentary Group and the Estonian Centre Party Group moved to reject the Bill at the first reading. The result of voting: 29 votes in favour and 51 against. The motion was not supported. The first reading of the Bill was concluded. The deadline for submission of motions to amend is 12 noon on 8 June.

The Riigikogu rejected a Bill

The Bill on Amendments to the Aliens Act and the Higher Education Act (3 SE), initiated by the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group, was intended to limit the short-term employment as seasonal workers in Estonia to 183 days within 365 consecutive days and to provide for a requirement of two-year residence in Estonia for aliens in the case where an alien has settled in Estonia for study purposes and wishes to invite his or her spouse to reside in Estonia. It was also intended to establish a procedure under which aliens would be issued temporary residence permits only for full-time employment, to repeal the specifications in place for start-ups and information and communications specialists, to establish the requirement to reimburse student expenses for students from third countries, etc.

During the debate, Margit Sutrop (Reform Party), Igor Taro (Estonia 200) and Henn Põlluaas (Estonian Conservative People’s Party) took the floor.

The Constitutional Committee moved to reject the Bill at the first reading. The result of voting: 48 votes in favour and 17 against. The motion was supported. The Bill was dropped from the legislative proceedings.

The Riigikogu heard replies to three interpellations

Chancellor of Justice Ülle Madise replied to the interpellation concerning online elections and the lack of legal clarity regarding them (No. 240), submitted by members of the Riigikogu.

The Minister of Justice Kalle Laanet replied to the interpellations concerning a legitimate expectation (No. 70) and deceitful policy (No. 87), submitted by members of the Riigikogu.

The sitting ended at 11.05 pm.

Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian)

Video recordings of the sittings of the Riigikogu can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/riigikogu. (Please note that the recording will be uploaded with a delay.)

Riigikogu Press Service
Gunnar Paal, +372 631 6351, +372 5190 2837
gunnar.paal@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: The Riigikogu supports enabling employers to pay voluntary sickness benefit to pregnant employees

Source: Parliament of Estonia