2024-08-03 12:51:35
The parliamentarian who registered the amendments to the statute proposes to reduce the salary of such people’s representatives in proportion to the number of missed meetings. Their salary would be reduced by as many percentages as the percentage of meetings missed.
After evaluating all the circumstances, the decision on salary reduction would be made by the board of the Seimas.
A. Bagdon proposes to provide for the salary reduction floor, that is, the monthly salary of a member of the Seimas cannot be lower than the monthly minimum salary (MMA) approved by the Government.
The statute also proposes to indicate what are considered important reasons for not attending meetings. This would be a Seimas member’s temporary incapacity for work, business trip, leave to take care of a child or other important circumstances, as well as non-participation in meetings, if approved by the Seimas Board.
If the parliamentarian does not announce that he will not attend the meeting, or does not indicate the reasons for his absence, it would be considered that the meeting was missed without an important justifiable reason.
A. Bagdon proposes to provide an exception for the parliamentary opposition, which, due to its views, decides for political purposes to demonstratively not participate in the plenary, committee or commission meetings of the Seimas. Such behavior of the opposition, if it is not permanent, would be considered as an important reason for not participating in the meetings.
Members of the Seimas who hold the positions of Speaker of the Seimas, Prime Minister or Minister would also be assessed more leniently. If they could not attend parliamentary meetings due to their duties, it would be a justifiable reason.
A. Bagdonas hopes that the proposed amendments to the Statute will encourage more responsible use of state budget funds, will allow maintaining a higher bar of work ethics in the parliament, and will increase trust in the Seimas institution.
“Each person must be paid fairly for the work he does, but a situation has arisen where most of the members of the Seimas work responsibly, but the rest of the parliamentarians go on vacation or simply do not attend the meetings of the Seimas or committees.
It is difficult for society to understand why a person receives a salary without going to work. I think that such regulation is not correct, so I suggest making changes. After the introduction of changes in the Statute, the principle “work – you get paid” will be ensured, so not participating in meetings without a justifiable reason will directly affect the salary”, A. Bagdon said to Elta.
He suggests using the experience of self-government, where such practices have proven successful.
“Members of the municipal council are paid according to their participation in the meetings. This practice showed positive results, encouraged a more responsible attitude to work and more active participation in meetings. Taking into account the proven experience in self-government, I propose to apply a similar regulation to the members of the Seimas”, said A. Bagdon.
Currently, the Statute of the Seimas stipulates that a member of the Seimas who, without an important justifiable reason, has not attended more than half of the Seimas meetings, in which voting on the adoption of legal acts was scheduled in advance and took place at the scheduled time, shall have his monthly salary reduced by one third.
Based on the conclusions of the Ethics and Procedures Commission, the salary is reduced by the decision of the Seimas Board. The amount by which the salary of the Seimas member is reduced is deducted from his next month’s salary.
If the Seimas approves, the new provisions of the Statute would enter into force on November 31 of this year. and would be applied to the next term of office of the Seimas.
2024-08-03 12:51:35