The Confederation of Trade Unions sent a draft amendment to the Preferential Old Age Pensions Act to the President of the Riigikogu. Without the implementation of the draft, several thousand people will not have access to the promised preferential pensions for the next two years.

"The aim of the draft is to solve the situation where, due to the gradual increase in the retirement age between 2017 and 2026, a smooth transition period has not been implemented for those taking early retirement on preferential terms, and for the next two years, no worker who has worked in a health-endangering job will be able to retire," commented Peep Peterson, chairman of the Confederation. "In our view, this is not in line with the principle of equal treatment."

The trade union's proposal is to apply a similar transition period for old-age pensions on preferential terms, as the Riigikogu legislated for those moving to old-age pensions - 3 months of increase in pensionable age for each year of the transition period.

"According to the Social Insurance Board, the legalisation of our draft will allow a total of 1 500-2000 workers to retire on preferential terms this year and next," Peterson commented.

Trade unions are hoping for a swift agreement on a transitional period, first from the governing coalition. To end the confusion, the law should be adopted by 1 July this year.