The Estonian Confederation of Trade Unions (EAKL) believes that the Ministry of Interior's proposed amendment to the Aliens Act needs significant improvements to protect the Estonian labour market from the influx of cheap labour. According to the draft, foreigners in labour-scarce sectors would be paid 80% of the average Estonian wage, which could create a situation where it is more profitable for companies to hire a foreigner rather than a local worker.

The Confederation of Trade Unions sent its views on the draft Act amending the Aliens Act on the specialisation of labour shortage activities to the Ministry of the Interior on 9 October 2025.

Kaia Vask, head of EAKL, stresses that there are thousands of people in Estonia registered as unemployed with the Unemployment Insurance Fund. Before bringing in migrant labour from abroad, the focus should be on getting local people back into the labour market. According to Vask, relaxing the wage criterion would create unfair competition and is contrary to the current foreign labour policy, which aims to protect the Estonian labour market and workers.

The situation of foreign workers needs better monitoring

More and more foreigners are working in Estonia whose rights have been violated by their employers. In 2024, the Labour Inspectorate was contacted by people whose country of origin was in EU Member States or, for example, South America. Therefore, EAKL considers that the recruitment of foreign workers should be carried out in cooperation with the Unemployment Insurance Fund.

Before hiring workers from third countries, the Unemployment Fund should be involved to help direct employers to local jobseekers first. This would reduce the risk of Estonian unemployed people's chances of returning to work deteriorating as a result of hiring foreigners.

Abusive employers exploit the vulnerability of workers from abroad, and for some companies exploitation has become a business model. As a result, the number of labour disputes involving workers who have arrived in Estonia from abroad has increased in recent years. Trade unions therefore believe that state supervision of the working conditions of migrant workers needs to be strengthened, and the state should give the Labour Inspectorate more resources to do this.

The Confederation also reminds the Government that the state has a duty to involve both trade unions and employers in the labour market and in the purchasing of workers, including in areas and quotas concerning foreign workers.

EAKL position on foreign workers (To the Ministry of the Interior, 09.10.2025)