The Riigikogu passed with 74 votes in favour (7 against, 1 abstention) the Occupational Health and Safety Act Amendment Act (975 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The Act extends the scope of application of the Act to include the activities of sole proprietors. Pursuant to the Act, a sole proprietor must, in all working situations, ensure the good condition of his/her working, personal protective and other equipment and their suitable use. The Act also obliges the employer to ensure that the employees have the possibility to use a rest area if it is necessary for their health and safety. The Act obligates the employer to fulfil a number of obligations related to the prevention of occupational accidents. For example, the employer must organise risk analyses of the working environment, for ascertaining the risk factors of the working environment and, if necessary, measuring the parameters of these and evaluating the risks on employees’ health and safety. In addition, the employer must compile a written action plan on the basis of the risk analysis of the working environment, which sets out the activities organised in every field of activity and management level of the enterprise for the prevention or reduction of risk factors to employees’ health.

The Riigikogu concluded the second reading of eight Bills:

The War Graves Protection Bill (1001 SE), initiated by the Estonian Reform Party Faction, Social Democratic Party Faction, Res Publica Faction and Isamaaliit Faction. According to the Bill, the obligation to mark and honour the war graves as required may also create the need to rebury the remains located therein the situation if the war graves are located in a place which does not enable the war graves and remains to be treated with due respect and which cannot be viewed as dignified last places of rest. The Estonian Centre Party Faction moved to suspend the second reading of the Bill. The motion was not supported (29 in favour of the motion, 38 against).

The Bill on Amendments to the Weapons Act, State Fees Act and Strategic Goods Act (967 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic;

The Bill on Amendments to the Insurance Activities Act (995 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic;

The Bill on Amendments to the Electronic Communications Act and Broadcasting Act (1024 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic;

The Bill on Amendments to the Basic Schools and Upper Secondary Schools Act and Private Schools Act (1035 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic;

The Hobby School Bill (994 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic;

The Bill on Amendments to § 58 of the Government of the Republic Act (989 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic;

The Bill on Amendments to the Vocational Educational Institutions Act and Associated Acts (1016 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

On the motion of the Cultural Affairs Committee the second reading of the Estonian National Broadcasting Bill (965 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic, was suspended.

The Riigikogu concluded the first reading of seven Bills:

The Bill on Amendments to the Human Genes Research Act and Estonian Academy of Sciences Act (1056 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic;

The Bill on Amendments to the Aliens Act and Associated Acts (1040 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic;

The Border Guard Service Bill (1046 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic;

The Bill on Amendments to the Chancellor of Justice Act (1049 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic;

The State Secrets and Classified Foreign Information Bill (1054 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic;

The Bill on Amendments to the State Culture Awards and Culture Grants Act (1047 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic;

The Bill on Amendments to the Waste Act and State Fees Act (1044 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic;

At Question Time Prime Minister Andrus Ansip answered the questions about the cooperation with the “United Russia” and granting citizenship. Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Paet answered the questions about the foreign policy of Estonia and about the representation of interests of the state of Estonia. Minister of Social Affairs Jaak Aab answered the question about the wages of medical staff.

The Riigikogu Press Service