Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2013, published 103rd ILC session (2014)

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

Article 3 of the Convention. Right of organizations to organize their activities. The Committee recalls that for a number of years it has been raising the issue of the prohibition of the right to strike in the public service. In this respect, it notes with interest the adoption of the Civil Service Act in June 2012, which appears through sections 7 and 15 to restrict this ban to public servants exercising authority in the name of the State.

The Committee had previously requested the Government to indicate the progress achieved in respect of the adoption of the list of services where the right to strike will be restricted (through a minimum service) as referred to in section 23(3) and (4) of the Collective Labour Dispute Resolution Act. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the Ministry of Social Affairs has prepared the first version (working document) of the draft Collective Bargaining and Collective Labour Dispute Resolution Act. The Government hopes that the Act will be adopted in 2014 and that it will resolve the issues raised by the Committee. The Committee welcomes the information provided by the Government and hopes that the new Act will be adopted in the near future. It requests the Government to provide a copy thereof once it is adopted.