Remarks: The website of the official database Riigi Teataja (Official Gazette) provides the text of the Estonian Legal Acts in English. This is a good source of updated legislation. https://www.riigiteataja.ee/tutvustus.html?m=3
SOURCES
Name of Act
Wages Act, 26 January 1994, entered into force 1 March 1994, Teataja (State Gazette) 1994, 11, 154, as amended to 11 December 2002, entered into force 1 January 2003 (Riigi Teataja 2002, 111, 662).
Agreement setting the national minimum wage rate for 2012 between the Confederation of Estonian Trade Unions and the Estonian Employers’ Confederation, dated 20 December 2011.
Agreement establishing the principles for minimum wage setting from 2002 - 2008, between the Confederation of Estonian Trade Unions and the Estonian Employers’ Confederation, dated 30 August 2001.
Wages are the remuneration which an employer pays to an employee for work performed in accordance with an employment contract, legal instrument or in other cases prescribed by legislation, a collective agreement or employment contract. Wages are comprised of basic wages and additional remuneration, bonuses and additional payments paid in the cases prescribed by law.
Wages Act S.2(1)
Minimum wage
The minimum amount of wage per specific unit of time (hour, day, week, month etc.) established by the Government of the Republic, which may be agreed upon for full-time employment.
Wages Act S.2(7)
MINIMUM WAGE FIXING
Procedure
Government decides after tripartite or bipartite body discussions/recommendations
The minimum wage is set by the government following the conclusion of a bipartite agreement between the social partners; The Estonian Trade Union Confederation and the Estonian Employers’ Confederation. The latest bipartite agreement was signed on 20 December 2011, valid from January 2012.
Wages Act S.2(7) Agreement setting the national minimum wage rate for 2012
Criteria
Needs of workers and their families
The effect that an increase in minimum wage rates could have on low-income earners should be considered when minimum wage rates are adjusted.
Agreement establishing the principles for minimum wage setting from 2002 - 2008 §3
Cost of living
Yes
Agreement establishing the principles for minimum wage setting from 2002 - 2008 §4
Level of wages and incomes in the country
Yes.
Agreement establishing the principles for minimum wage setting from 2002 - 2008 §2
Productivity
Yes
Agreement establishing the principles for minimum wage setting from 2002 - 2008 §3
Inflation rate
Yes.
Agreement establishing the principles for minimum wage setting from 2002 - 2008 §2
Coverage
Scope
The Agreement on the minimum wage rate for 2012 applies nationwide, and therefore to all workers employed under an employment contract in the Republic of Estonia.
Wages Act S.1(1) Agreement setting the national minimum wage rate for 2012 Second paragraph
Excluded categories
No exclusions apply as for categories of workers.
Specific minimum wage rates
» Specific minimum wage by occupation
No
» Specific minimum wage by sector
No
» Specific minimum wage by region
No. The Agreement on the minimum wage rate for 2012 applies nationwide.
Agreement setting the national minimum wage rate for 2012
» Minimum wage levels for specific categories of workers
No.
Level
Minimum wage level(s) in national currency
The national minimum wage for full-time work is set in 290 euros per month or 1.80 euros per hour, from January 2012.
Agreement setting the national minimum wage rate for 2012
Last minimum wage update
1 January 2012
Agreement setting the national minimum wage rate for 2012
In-kind allowances
Wages shall be calculated and shall be paid to employees in money.
Wages Act S.6(1)
Rate of payment
» Hourly
Yes. The last adjustment of the national minimum wage provides an hourly rate.
Agreement setting the national minimum wage rate for 2012
» Monthly
Yes. The last adjustment of the national minimum wage provides a monthly rate.
Agreement setting the national minimum wage rate for 2012
» Other
Wages shall be paid at least once a month.
Wages Act S.31(1)
Scheduled frequency of adjustment
The legislation does not provide how frequent the national minimum wage shall be adjusted. As a reference, before 2012, the national minimum wage was last revised on June 2009.
Agreement setting the national minimum wage rate for 2012
Enforcement mechanisms
Labour inspection
The Labour Inspectorate shall implement the work environment policy, state supervision in the work environment over compliance with the requirements of legislation regulating occupational health and safety and labour relations (including the supervision of adherence to the requirements of the Wages Act), informing general public, workers and employers of the dangers in the work environment and resolving of individual labour disputes in extra-judicial labour dispute resolution body.
Wages Act S.37 (1) Statutes of the Labour Inspectorate S.8
Fines in national currency for non-respect of legislation
Violation of any of the provisions of the Wages Act 1994, including the provisions concerning minimum wages, results in liability to maximum fine of 10,000 EEK.
Wages Act §37(6)
Results generated on: 24th April 2024 at 07:24:21.
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