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EU PolicyWatch

Database of national-level policy measures

Eurofound's EU PolicyWatch collates information on the responses of government and social partners to the COVID-19 crisis, the war in Ukraine, rising inflation, as well as gathering examples of company practices aimed at mitigating the social and economic impacts.

Factsheet for measure EE-2022-17/2319 – measures in Estonia

Group counselling on various subjects for Ukrainian refugees

Grupinõustamine erinevatel teemadel Ukraina põgenikele

Country Estonia , applies nationwide
Time period Open ended, started on 22 April 2022
Context War in Ukraine
Type Other initiatives or policies
Category Measures to prevent social hardship
– Other humanitarian measures
Author Ingel Kadarik (Praxis Center for Policy Studies) and Eurofound
Measure added 18 May 2022 (updated 09 January 2025)

Background information

To ease the adaptation of the Ukrainian war refugees in Estonia, the Estonian Refugee Centre provides information and support to the refugees in various ways. This includes group counselling. The group counselling sessions are organised in cooperation with different NGOs, private companies, the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund and the Labour Inspectorate.

Content of measure

The Ukrainian refugees can sign up for free-of-charge group counselling-workshop sessions which are held in different locations in Estonia. The sessions are held in the Russian language.

Group counselling concentrates on four topics:

  1. Adaptation: Discussions on how to cope in Estonia and sharing practical tips on learning the Estonian language and making friends.
  2. Digital skills: Provides an overview of Estonia's digital services and e-state.
  3. Children’s adaptation and education: Children's trauma experiences are discussed and information about the Estonian school system and children's leisure activities are introduced.
  4. Employment: overview of the Estonian labour market and labour law is given and the experiences and practical tips on job seeking, CV creation and other application documents is discussed.

Use of measure

In 2024, 2,288 refugees participated in the sessions. As of December 2024, since the beginning of the measure in 2022, altogether 8,900 refugees have participated in the sessions.

Target groups

Workers Businesses Citizens
Does not apply to workers Does not apply to businesses Migrants or refugees

Actors and funding

Actors Funding
National government
Company / Companies
Other social actors (e.g. NGOs)
Public employment service
Other

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

Trade unions Employers' organisations
Role No involvement as case not in social partner domain No involvement as case not in social partner domain
Form Not applicable Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

  • No involvement
  • Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

No involvement.

Views and reactions

No information.

Sources

Citation

Eurofound (2022), Group counselling on various subjects for Ukrainian refugees, measure EE-2022-17/2319 (measures in Estonia), EU PolicyWatch, Dublin, https://static.eurofound.europa.eu/covid19db/cases/EE-2022-17_2319.html

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Disclaimer: This information has not been subject to the full Eurofound evaluation, editorial and publication process.