The second supplementary budget and amendments to the Employment Contracts Act were passed
The Riigikogu passed the second supplementary budget and amendments to the Employment Contracts Act at the second additional sitting
The Riigikogu passed four Acts and a Resolution
With 51 votes in favour (32 against), the Riigikogu passed the Act on Amendments to the Employment Contracts Act and Associated Acts (518 SE, initiated by the Government. The Act postpones payment of the unemployment insurance benefit to people who cease employment on own initiative or by agreement of the parties until 2013. Also, in comparison to the provisions of the Act passed on 17 December 2008, the unemployment insurance benefit will be reduced to 50 per cent instead of the current 70 per cent in the first hundred days and to 40 per cent instead of the current 50 per cent starting from the 101st day until the 360th day. The regulation concerning night work is also specified. According to the amendment act, it will be possible to establish specifications in the restrictions of night work only with the agreement of the employee or by a collective agreement. Besides that, the compensation for the child care leave on the basis of the minimum remuneration rate and compensation for the leave for fathers on the basis of the average remuneration from the state budget funds will be postponed until 1 January 2013. )
With 55 votes in favour (31 against) the Second Supplementary State Budget of the Year 2009 Act (510 SE), initiated by the Government, was passed; the Act improves the budget position by 6 billion kroons.
With 80 votes in favour the Act on Amendments to the Creative Persons and Creative Persons Associations Act (502 SEIt makes the allocation of support for creative activity more flexible and gives the self-employed creative persons who need support but could not get it because of the current rigid regulations also the possibility to submit applications for support. The Act also enables to extend the period of payment of support for creative activity, making it possible for creative persons to continue their creative work during crisis periods or cover necessary expenses.), initiated by the Government, was passed. The Act specifies the procedure for payment of support for creative activity.
With 57 votes in favour (3 against), the Act on Amendments to the Estonian Flag Act (529 SE, initiated by the Constitutional Committee, was passed, which enacts that on the lowering of the Estonian flag at the Pikk Hermann tower the musical signature created on the basis of a fragment of the song by Gustav Ernesaks “Mu isamaa on minu arm” [“Land of My Fathers, Land that I Love”] will be played. )
With 54 votes in favour the Resolution of the Riigikogu “Making a Proposal to the Government of the Republic” (526 OEsubmitted by the Estonian Green Party Faction, making a proposal to the Government to suspend the proceedings of exploration permits for limestone, dolostone, crystalline building stone, sand, gravel and clay deposits that have not been taken into use until the natural building materials use national development plan would be completed. In the opinion of the initiator the proceeding of new exploration permits would endanger the living environment of many local communities in the situation where the latter have virtually no possibility to effectively protect the nature of their home neighbourhood. According to the initiator, the development plan that is being prepared creates preconditions for a more systematic approach to the mining of natural building materials.),
The Riigikogu concluded the second reading of the Bill on Amendments to the Plant Propagation and Plant Variety Rights Act and Other Associated Acts (500 SE), initiated by the Government.
The Riigikogu Press Service
