Estonia, EU – Baltic States, Labour Unions, Legislation, Markets and Companies

ETUC's chairman Peep Peterson said that the government didn’t take into account in the draft law the numerous comments and amendment proposals of social partners.

"The solutions proposed to problems and contradictions were mostly not taken into account. There was no time to consider them either since the ambitious minister sent the bill to the government in a hurry. The future prime minister didn't care much about the quality of the bill, social harmony or that he might not have the votes in the Riigikogu to process the law," said Peterson, referring to social minister Taavi Rõivas whom the Reform Party has now proposed as its possible new prime minister.

Consultations over reforming collective labour relations have lasted for nearly a year. Peterson said that during that time, trade unions have submitted seven different versions of how to modernise collective labour relations in content too while guaranteeing employees all recognised ways to defend their rights. "Unfortunately the modernising was not done and the bill adds several undemocratic restrictions not accepted in the Western world," said Peterson, explaining that the bill in essence rules out trade unions as representatives of civil servants, bans wage talks of civil servants and enables to set arbitrary strike restrictions in almost any sphere of life.

Trade Unions made a call yesterday to all parties to refuse to process the collective labour relations law in its current form.