Background information

The Employment Programme is a regulation that establishes the conditions and procedures for providing labour market services, paying labour market benefits, using European Social Fund+ (ESF+) funds, supporting related development activities, and setting rates for services and benefits.

The regulation includes active labour market policies specifically targeted at labour market integration, such as Estonian language learning and recognition of qualifications.

The paragraphs of the regulation relevant to labour migration management include: § 23. Labour market training § 43. Support for employment of beneficiaries of international protection.

Content of measure

The regulation includes active labour market policies aimed at migrants, including:

*Estonian language training that prepares participants for the Estonian language proficiency exam or for achieving the A1 level;

*Financial support for employers to improve employees' Estonian language skills;

*Employers of migrants under international protection receive compensation for the cost of obtaining their qualification, and for the cost of translation services related to employment and starting working.

*Employers are eligible for:

• Compensation for the costs of obtaining the employee’s professional qualification.
• Compensation for translation services related to employment and starting work (up to €500 per employee).
• A one-time fee for professional mentoring, amounting to 75% of the minimum monthly wage, paid within four months of the employee starting work

Other active labour market measures such as career counselling, apprenticeship programmes etc, are also available for migrants, but not specifically targeted at this group and therefore not described here.

Use of measure

The Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund (EUIF) collects statistics on participation in labour market measures they implement. Between January 2024 and March 2025, individuals under international protection (both employed and unemployed) made 14,315 entries into EUIF labour market measures. Mentoring services were provided to 1,247 employees under international protection, translation cost compensation was granted for 6 employees, and qualification acquisition support was used by 1 employee. Additionally, employers received financial support for language learning courses aimed at improving the Estonian language skills of 218 employees under international protection.

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	European Funds National funds

Social partners

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

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	No involvement	No involvement
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

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

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

Involvement

Social partners did not provide feedback in the public policy draft feedback system (National Draft System). They are involved on a more general level of labour market policy developments, for example in the council of national PES Unemployment Insurance Fund, which implements the measures outlined in Employment Programme.

Views and reactions

Social partners have not expressed their views regarding these specific documents. In discussions regarding labour market management in other settings, Employment Confederation and other employers (such as Bolt Operations) have expressed concern over the lack of availability of Estonian language courses for migrants.

Sources

• 29 September 2023: Employment Programme 2024-2029 (www.riigiteataja.ee)
• 28 January 2025: Välismaalaste seaduse muutmise ja sellega seonduvalt teiste seaduste muutmise seaduse (rändemenetluste tõhustamine) eelnõu seletuskirja juurde Lisa (www.riigikogu.ee)
• 28 April 2025: Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund statistics for Beneficiaries of international protection (www.tootukassa.ee)