Response to Letter of Solidarity with EAKL Regarding Social Dialogue in Estonia

Inga Vejina Your Ref: 17.06.2025 No The Latvian Public Service and Transport Workers Trade Union Our Ref: 17.07.2025 No 6-2/2345-2 Response to Letter of Solidarity with EAKL Regarding Social Dialogue in Estonia Dear Chairman, Thank you for your letter expressing solidarity with the Estonian Trade Union Confederation and for sharing your concerns. We sincerely appreciate your engagement and the spirit of cross-border solidarity that underpins your message. We would like to take this opportunity to reaffirm that the Estonian government remains committed to the principles of social dialogue and to the role of trade unions in shaping fair and balanced labour relations. Social dialogue is not only a cornerstone of democratic governance but a necessary tool in developing inclusive and sustainable labour market policies. Since the beginning of the current reform process of Employment Contracts Act in 2021, trade unions have been involved in countless tripartite discussions, both formally and informally. The legislative proposal under question has been discussed thoroughly and repeatedly since then. Current proposal is the result of extended negotiations and reflects a compromise between the positions of different social partners. While it is understandable that no party may be entirely satisfied with the outcome, we reject the notion that social dialogue has been absent. The legislative proposal is now being discussed in the Estonian Parliament, where trade unions are again actively involved in the deliberations. We sincerely value the work of organisations such as LAKRS in upholding the rights of workers and advancing social dialogue across the region. Thank you once again for your letter and your ongoing support for democratic labour institutions and fair working conditions. With best regards, (signed digitally) Ulla Saar Deputy Secretary General for Labour and Equality Policies Suur-Ameerika 1 / 10122 Tallinn / ESTONIA Phone: +372 625 6342 / Fax: +372 631 3660 / E-mail: [email protected] / http://www.mkm.ee Johann Vootele Mäevere [email protected] /*Copy to Riigikogu õiguskomisjon 2 (2)