The proposal for faster employment of Ukrainian doctors and nurses was rejected at the latest sitting of the Riigikogu Social Affairs Committee. Officials described the extension of special treatment to all citizens of third countries a political decision but the politicians viewed it as the officials’ exceeding of their powers or an insidious ploy to postpone the decision at least until the autumn. There is a shortage of four hundred nurses in Estonia and the war refugees from Ukraine were viewed as an opportunity to overcome it. Although the main wave of refugees arrived already half a year ago and the most active newcomers have already learned some Estonian, they will not get a work permit anytime soon.
The Riigikogu sitting to conduct the second reading of the controversial family benefits bill that started on Wednesday has lasted through the night and is still in progress. The Wednesday sitting will be ended at 10 a.m. with deliberations continuing straight away as the Thursday session.
Center Party Riigikogu group head Jaanus Karilaid tells ERR in an interview that Center put forth the family benefits bill because the supplementary budget fell short of the party's expectations.
Leaders are considering whether to extend coronavirus certification for those who have recovered from the virus, so it is in line with certificates for vaccinated people at 12 months. Health minister Tanel Kiik (Center) urges caution, while the undersecretary at his ministry said unnamed experts opposed it. At the same time, leaders of the government's coronavirus advisory council, and of the Health Board (Terviseamet) have tentatively supported harmonization.
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas (Reform) said at a public sitting of the Riigikogu Social Affairs Committee on Monday that Estonia is now in a code red situation regarding the coronavirus, with 21.5 percent of all tests returning positive and hospitals treating 516 people.