Minister of Culture Heidy Purga says that cultural workers' salaries have not risen for three years. She says that when discussing the state budget, the salary increase for cultural workers should not be tied to loan money.
The government will start drafting the state budget at the end of August. Coalition politicians want to raise the salaries of teachers, police officers, firefighters, and cultural workers. However, it is not certain whether there is enough money for this.
Purga referred to an interview where former finance minister Mart Võrklaev said that the salary increase would be financed by borrowed money. This means that interest would have to be paid later.
Purga said that she was bothered by the stigmatization of cultural and education workers. She thought that Võrklaev was right in some matters, but one important sector should not be marked out. She asked: "If we don't have good education, what future does our country have? If we don't have culture, what content does our country have?"
Purga wrote: "We can buy rockets with borrowed money, but our people do not work or contribute for borrowed money. We shouldn't think or say such things. Cultural workers' salaries have not risen for three years! At the same time, all prices have risen and life has become more expensive. The budget of the Ministry of Culture has decreased and it is one of the smallest among the ministries."
Purga added that hearing such statements made her sad. She said that people working in the cultural and education sectors should be valued and supported.