Estonia - Working conditions



Estonia is party to all major universal and European legal instruments on economic and social rights, the rights of the child, the right to equal compensation and collective bargaining, and the elimination of discrimination in the workplace. The Estonian labor force numbered 785,500 in 1999. Unemployment is around 10 percent, yet working conditions are considerably better than in many other Eastern European countries. The labor force is skilled and educated and the average salary in 1997 was US$257 a month (US$322 in the manufacturing sector), a fraction of the rate elsewhere in Scandinavia but higher than most Eastern European countries. The percentage of people working in the services industry was 69 percent, industry 20 percent, and agriculture and forestry 11 percent. Labor unions have limited influence and have a non-confrontational approach to government and employers. With a decreasing and aging population, Estonia faces serious demographic challenges. Many labor practices are inefficient and improving productivity is key for Estonia's economy.

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