About Us

We believe that private-sector employers are the key to the development of Estonia and to the welfare of its people. In the light of this responsibility, we have intentionally taken an active role in improving life in the country. As the voice of employers in Estonia and internationally, the Estonian Employers’ Confederation advocates for a truly dynamic nation.

Our mission is to contribute to Estonia’s economic growth and improve the standard of living of its people.

To that end, what we do aims to ensure that:

  • legislators and the government take decisions that contribute to Estonia’s economic growth and an improved enterprise environment;
  • entrepreneurs and their associations are provided with the knowledge and knowhow they need to grow and achieve more; and
  • the wider public has a clear understanding of the economy and of the role of employers and entrepreneurs in economic development.

Among the members of the Estonian Employers’ Confederation are all of the biggest industrial associations and most of the large businesses in the country which are well known and respected by the public. Both directly and through industry associations, we are the voice of over 2000 companies employing more than 250,000 people.

We are the only enterprise organisation in Estonia which has been recognised as a social partner, since we represent employers on the supervisory boards of the Health Insurance Fund, the Unemployment Insurance Fund, the Estonian Business and Innovation Agency and the Estonian Qualifications Authority, as well as in negotiations on the national minimum wage. In these partnerships, our aim is to support an economic environment in which social partners make as many of the decisions that affect the labour market as possible without the government’s intervention. Additionally, employers’ representatives are involved in the work of a number of advisory bodies and committees (including the Research and Development Council and the Committee for Innovation Policy) and of professional chambers.

What do we stand for?

  • A knowledge-based economy
  • Legal certainty for entrepreneurs
  • A fair tax environment
  • Lower labour taxes
  • Flexible employment relations
  • Regular and proactive retraining
  • The internationalisation of higher education
  • Reputable, high-quality vocational education
  • An increased share of technical professions in higher education
  • Entrepreneurs earning and enjoying a better reputation
  • Value-based public procurements

The Estonian Employers’ Confederation is a member of the International Organisation of Employers (IOE), the Confederation of European Business (BusinessEurope) and the Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the OECD (BIAC). We are also a member of the European Economic and Social Committee.

We represent the interests of Estonia’s enterprise environment in international organisations in the broadest sense. In our international activities we champion a strong and open European Union with an internationally competitive economy.