The Estonian Confederation of Trade Unions (EAKL) is the representative organisation of workers, which stands up for the voice of workers to be heard in decisions affecting working life. Our role is to create a balance between the interests of employers and employees through social dialogue, in order to help shape a fairer labour market and improve working conditions for all workers in Estonia.
Social dialogue means cooperation between employers and workers' representatives based on trust, equal partnership and negotiation. It is through such dialogue that agreements are reached that support both workers' well-being and economic development.
The trade union confederation helps to launch and maintain this dialogue by ensuring that workers' interests are taken into account when laws, labour reforms or wage policies are discussed.
Today's labour market needs a balance between security and flexibility, and for legislation to become more flexible without undermining workers' rights. Decisions must therefore be taken through meaningful sectoral and national social dialogue in partnership with employers.
The EAKL supports the capacity of trade unions to engage in negotiations and works to ensure that employers' organisations are also ready for dialogue. The ETUC is also committed to ensuring that labour market reforms in Estonia are the result of negotiations between the parties and lead to balanced solutions that respect workers' rights.
The ETUC is also actively involved in cooperation at European level, where real results have been achieved between the social partners, for example in the working time and fair pay directives.
