On the motion of the Constitutional Committee as leading committee the second reading of the Bill on Amendments to the Political Parties Act and to Other Acts Arising Therefrom (857 SE), initiated by the Isamaaliit Faction, was concluded. The purpose of the Bill is to repeal the provisions of the Act, which, beginning from 2008, would enable prosecutors, police officers, Chancellor of Justice, officials of security authorities, Auditor General and judges to belong to political parties. The Bill was sent to the third reading.
On the motion of the Social Affairs Committee as leading committee the first reading of the Bill on Amendments to the Family Benefits Act (952 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic, was concluded. The purpose of the amendment to the Act is to support the children raised in guardianship and foster families and in such a way to ensure the raising of children left without parental care in a family environment. Pursuant to the Bill, the allowance of a child in foster care will be raised from the present EEK 900 to EEK 1,500 a month. The Bill also extends the allowance for starting independent life to the children left without parental care who are starting their independent life and who have been under guardianship or in foster care in their childhood, similarly to the children who have been in social welfare institutions or schools for pupils with special needs. The Bill was sent to the second reading.
On the motion of the Social Affairs Committee as leading committee the first reading of the Bill on the Ratification of the Convention No 138 of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment (953 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic, was concluded. The Convention to be ratified obligates the Member States of the ILO, who have ratified it, to carry out the policy planned for efficient liquidating of child labour, and to gradually raise the minimum employment age to the level corresponding perfectly to physical and mental development of young people. In Estonia this minimum age is 15 years. Pursuant to the Employment Contracts Act, an employer must not employ or require to work a minor of less than 15 years of age or of compulsory school attendance unless otherwise provided by law. The Bill was sent to the second reading.
The first reading of the Bill on Amendments to the Local Government Councils Election Act, Riigikogu Election Act and European Parliament Election Act (934 SE), initiated by the Isamaaliit Faction and Res Publica Faction, was cancelled due to the absence of the presenter of the report.
The Draft Resolution On Making a Proposal to the Government of the Republic (940 OE), presented by the Isamaaliit Faction and the Res Publica Faction, was withdrawn from legislative proceeding, because 46 members of the Riigikogu were against it and 35 in favour of it. The Bill on Amendments to the Local Government Councils Election Act, Riigikogu Election Act and European Parliament Election Act (944 SE), initiated by the Isamaaliit Faction and Res Publica Faction, and the Bill on Amendments to the Heritage Conservation Act (912 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Mark Soosaar, Imre Sooäär and Trivimi Velliste, were also withdrawn from legislative proceeding. The motion to withdraw the Bills from legislative proceeding was made in both cases by the Estonian Centre Party Faction.
The Riigikogu Press Service