As Estonia's economic outlook improves, culture workers hope for pay rise
Negotiations on Estonia's state budget began on Tuesday, and culture sector workers, encouraged by an improved economic forecast, are hoping for a higher minimum wage and better social protection for freelancers.
Estonia's state budget negotiations began on Tuesday, August 25. In connection with this, culture sector workers are hoping for both a rise in the minimum wage and social insurance guarantees for freelance workers.
According to the revised spring economic forecast, Estonia's economy is performing better than expected. The Ministry of Finance projects economic growth of 2.3%, which is also bringing optimism to the culture sector — an area that has so far been one of the main targets of budget cuts.
In spring, the Confederation of Estonian Trade Unions (TALO), which represents culture workers with higher education, met with representatives of the Ministry of Culture and demanded a pay increase. The sector expects the ministry to defend its interests, said Elin Kard, executive director of the Estonian Theatre Workers' Union.
Minimum wage demand
Kard said the sector hopes that TALO's proposals made earlier this year — to raise the minimum wage for culture workers from the current 1,720 euros to 2,021 euros — will be taken into account. Given the improved economic forecast, the sector is more optimistic than at the start of the year, though it acknowledges that the situation remains difficult across all fields, not only culture.
Amendment on creative workers' law
Another issue affecting several areas of culture is an amendment to the Act on Creative Persons and Creative Associations, which would ease the situation for freelancers. Kard noted that the sector has long been waiting for progress on proposals regarding a permanent social tax or its annual aggregation for creative individuals, an issue that never seems to move forward. The entire culture sector, together with working groups from several ministries, including a significant contribution from the Ministry of Culture, has worked on these amendments for a long time. According to Kard, this issue is essentially tied to how society values the work of creative people and the role of creative unions.
