"The average salary has exceeded the 2,000 euro mark, and the fact that even in the economic crisis, Estonia can still show a salary increase of more than seven percent is good news. Looking at the median salary map, it's bittersweet," wrote Lauri Läänemets (Social Democratic Party) on social media. :format(webp)/nginx/o/2024/07/20/16234761t1hdb8d.jpg)
Lauri Läänemets. Photo: Martin Pedaja rus.postimees.ee August 26, 2024, 18:00
"The average salary has exceeded the 2,000 euro mark, and the fact that even in the economic crisis, Estonia can still show a salary increase of more than seven percent is good news. Looking at the median salary map, it's bittersweet," wrote Lauri Läänemets (Social Democratic Party) on social media.
The chairman of the Social Democratic Party and Minister of the Interior clarified that in most counties low wages are commonplace, which is certainly not an acceptable situation.
"It is the median that ruthlessly reflects the real situation – only half of the residents of Lääne County, South-East Estonia or Ida-Virumaa earn more than 1,300 euros," Läänemets wrote.
According to him, inequality requires increased attention in planning economic development.
"Wages that are on the verge of the subsistence minimum are not constructive from an economic policy point of view, and instead encourage people to ask for more social benefits. Ultimately, this is simply an unfair assessment of people's work efforts," he argues.
Reducing regional inequality
"That is why our mission in the government is to ensure that regional inequality is taken into account in every decision we make and that every decision we make is aimed at reducing it. Fortunately, thanks to the strong increase in the minimum wage, we have already seen wage growth in Ida-Viru County (9.4%), Hiiumaa (8.6%) and Valga County (8.5%), but there is still a lot of work ahead," Läänemets said.
"In the government, we have also agreed to direct large investments to areas that need support and help in creating profitable jobs," Läänemets said.
