Editorial: law changed, mess remained

Photo: Urmas Nemvalts

Starting April last year, new Public Service Act entered into force. As envisioned by then interior minister Kristen Michal, the result should’ve been making pay more public, plain and clear in ministries. The endless benefits for diplomas, language skills, seniority and what not would have to go; instead, employees should get basic wages boosted.

As laid bare by wage data submitted by ministries yesterday, the hoped transparency failed to show up. In addition to the ballooning basic wages, somewhat hefty variable pay is being handed out. Though prescribed by law, it at times exceeds the legal limits. Main thing: the essence of and causes for paying the extra are still incomprehensible for the taxpayer.

Variable pay, as called in Legalese, is supposed to exist so ministries may reward staff for effectiveness, doing the additional task, or just to reward ‘em. Surely it’s not the issue of excellent employees not being worthy of additional pay or benefits. Effectiveness at work needs to be acknowledged. Questionable, though, whether it is just and fare to place good people in a situation where they will feel uncomfortable for the opaqueness of their wages. Just as it raises eyebrows when it’s lion’s share of officialdom at ministries who get variable pay – and the fact of the sums exiting boundaries set by law. 

In Postimees today, finance ministry public administration and services chief Cerlin Pesti lays out the complexity of the situation: the rules are there, but as ministries transgress they cannot be punished.

Doubtful the idea of a public pillory perhaps bettering the situation – the more so that then arrows of criticism would also hit the diligent officials justly awarded financially. Rather, we ought to hope the ministries will grasp the need to change things. The initial step towards that would be that very transparency desired by Mr Michal as minister of justice. The essence and reasons for variable pay must be clearly stated. And that’s not asking for too much. In the private sector, it is precisely known which additional tasks extra is paid, or which projects successfully completed equal awards. This principle should be even more obvious in a sector with salary money drawn from pockets of people taxed.

Till then, it’s the journalist’s job to keep a close eye on events. As stated by Riigikogu finance committee deputy head Sven Sester in the article today: the more such questions are being asked, the clearer it becomes for the decision makers that they are under public control. Because: in private sector, it’s up to an entrepreneur what he does with his money; in public sector, it’s taxpayer’s money. Well said!