Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2011, published 101st ILC session (2012)

Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98) - Estonia (Ratification: 1994)

The Committee notes the comments submitted by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) in a communication dated 4 August 2011 referring to the difficulties trade unions encounter in defending trade unions rights (in particular, as regards proving discrimination cases, insufficient dismissal compensation and slow and expensive court procedures) and alleging cases of anti union discrimination. The Committee requests the Government to provide its comments thereon.

Article 4 of the Convention. Promotion of collective bargaining. The Committee notes that in its report the Government indicates that a special electronic database called KLAK (“Database of collective agreements”) was established in 2011 by the Ministry of Social Affairs in order to strengthen bargaining power of the employers and unions as well as to improve quality of information on collective bargaining and agreements and also to promote free collective bargaining in general. This new database covers all collective agreements registered in the country. However, according to the Government, under the relevant national rules, registration of the collective agreements is not mandatory. The Committee further notes the Government’s indication that with the financial aid of the European Social Funds, there is now a wide programme (2008–12) concerning strengthening of administrative power of employers and trade unions. One of the essential goals of this programme, according to the Government, is to promote and strengthen bargaining power of the social partners. The Committee welcomes the information provided by the Government and requests it to provide information on the results achieved in this regard.