Background information

Due to the Russian war against Ukraine, thousands of working age refugees have arrived to Estonia. To support their employability, the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund pays several benefits for employers when hiring Ukrainian war refugee.

The measure is financed on the basis of the Minister's directive "Provision of labor market services to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 crisis" which is financed from the REACT-EU fund.

Content of measure

To increase the participation of the refugees in employment and to contribute to their self-sufficiency and their adaptation and integration into Estonian society, the employment of the refugees is supported by paying a professional mentoring fee and reimbursing the costs of job-related translation services, job-related training and obtaining a qualification for an employee.

Target group includes beneficiaries of international protection who have received the protection less than five years ago with an employment contract with a duration of at least four months.

• The one-time professional mentoring fee paid to the employer is 75% of the minimum monthly wage (thus €490 in 2022).
• The cost of professional training reimbursable to the employer is up to €2,500 per employee. The training must take place within the duration of the employment contract but not later than a year since the start of the employment contract.
• Maximum €500 is reimbursed of the costs of obtaining a qualification and of job-related translation services within the duration of the employment contract but not later than a year since the start of the employment contract. The costs eligible for reimbursement include employer's costs incurred on behalf of the employee related to obtaining a professional certificate, certificate of competence, driver's license, etc. The fee for the consultation prior to the exam, the fee for the exam and the requested certificate, including the state fee, are reimbursed.

Use of measure

No information available.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Migrants or refugees in employment	Applies to all businesses	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government Company / Companies Public employment service	European Funds

Social partners

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

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Consulted	Consulted
Form	Consultation through tripartite or bipartite social dialogue bodies	Consultation through tripartite or bipartite social dialogue bodies

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

• Unknown
• Main level of involvement: Unknown

Involvement

The Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund is directed by a Supervisory Board in which the government is an equal stakeholder together with representatives of employers and of employees (the Estonian Trade union Confederation, the Estonian Employees' Unions' Confederation and the Estonian Employers Confederation).

Views and reactions

No information available.

Sources

• 01 June 2022: Rahvusvahelise kaitse saaja töötamise toetamine (Supporting the employment of a beneficiary of international protection) (www.tootukassa.ee)