Estonian parliament raises support for second child

Estonian parliament adopted a law on 15 November which increases the monthly support for the second child born in a family from the current 225 ($12.60) to 300 kroons. The 300-kroon allowance will also be applied to the third and further children, while the allowance for the first child will remain at the 150-kroon level. Social Minister Eiki Nestor said that the increased benefits will be paid for approximately 89,300 children and will cost about 70 million kroons per year. The law will go into effect on 1 January 2002. Also on 15 November, the parliament's Constitution Commission by a narrow vote of five to four with one abstention expressed its support for the law abolishing the state language-proficiency requirements for candidates to parliament and local councils.