Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1996, published 85th ILC session (1997)

Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87) - Estonia (Ratification: 1994)

The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government in its first report.

It requests the Government to supply further information on the following points:

Article 2 of the Convention. The Committee observes that article 30 of the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia, of 28 June 1992, allows a restriction on the right of some categories of civil servants to belong to non-profit associations. The Committee requests the Government to indicate whether civil servants may be excluded from the right of freedom of association and to supply the legal texts which restrict their rights.

The Committee notes that trade unions are registered. It requests the Government to supply information on registration procedures, to indicate whether registration conditions are the same for trade unions and associations in general, and to supply the texts governing registration.

The Committee notes that in the Law on Trade Unions several provisions mention the Central Trade Union of Estonia by name when referring to national trade union alliances or unions. The Committee requests the Government to abolish any reference to a specifically designated trade union body when texts are next revised.

Article 3. The Committee notes that under the Act on Collective Agreements (section 21), the Government draws up a list of undertakings or establishments in which a minimum service must be provided. It requests the Government, if such a list has been adopted, to supply a copy.

Article 7. The Committee requests the Government to specify whether registration confers legal personality on workers' and employers' organizations.

Finally, the Committee notes that the Government indicates in its report that it is contemplating a new law on trade unions. It requests the Government to supply information on the progress of work and to provide the text of the new law once it has been adopted.