- OVERVIEW
1.1. The Council of the Estonian Employers’ Confederation (hereinafter referred to as the Confederation) is a body of up to 30 members performing the functions of the General Meeting to the extent stipulated in the Statutes.
1.2. The Council shall act on the basis of this Procedure, the Statutes of the Association and the Non-Profit Organisations Act.
- PUBLICATION
2.1. Council:
2.1.1. appoints the Governing Board and supervises its activities;
2.1.2. approves the Union’s action plan and budget;
2.1.3. decides on the admission of a member on the basis of clause 4.1. of the Statutes of the Union and on the expulsion of a member on the basis of clauses 4.4.1. and 4.4.2. of the Statutes.
2.1.4. decides on the transfer or encumbrance of immovable property of the Union or movable property entered in the register;
2.1.5. proposes to the Government of the Republic to appoint representatives to the Council of the Estonian Health Insurance Fund.
2.1.6. appoints representatives to the Council of the Estonian Unemployment Fund;
2.1.7. consents to the nomination of a national conciliator;
2.1.8. if necessary, decide on any other matters requested by the Governing Board or at least 1/10 of the members of the Council;
- MANAGEMENT
3.1. The council’s working format is a meeting. A quorum is constituted when more than half of the members of the council are present.
3.2. The meeting of the council shall be chaired and represented by the chairman of the council elected by its members or, in his absence, by one of the vice-chairmen of the council. The council may elect up to seven vice-chairmen to perform the duties set out in section 3.4. above.
3.3. The council may, with the agreement of the vice-chairman of the council, delegate the coordination of a specific council task to the vice-chairman.
3.4. The president of the council shall have the right to convene a college of vice-presidents of the council, whose functions shall be:
3.4.1. discuss matters relating to the Union and the work of the Council during the intervals between Councils;
3.4.2. consult the Governing Board on matters of importance to the Union outside its day-to-day activities or of high public interest;
3.4.3. submit to the council any questions necessary for it to take a decision;
3.4.4. take any other initiative the Union needs.
3.5. Council meetings are held at least once a quarter. The meeting of the council shall be convened by the chairman of the council, who shall notify the councillors of the time and place of the meeting at least 14 days before the meeting, unless the time and place of the meeting have been notified to the councillors in advance. The agenda of the meeting shall be sent by the chairman of the council to the councillors at least 7 days in advance. Before the election of the chairman of the council, the council shall be convened by the board.
- ELECTION OF THE CHAIRMAN AND VICE-CHAIRMEN OF THE COUNCIL
4.1. The chairman and vice-chairmen of the council shall be elected by and from among the members of the council by secret ballot by a majority of the votes cast by the members of the council. Each councillor may nominate one councillor as chairman and up to seven councillors as vice-chairmen. The nomination of a candidate shall be subject to the prior written consent of the candidate.
4.2. In the event that more than two candidates stand for the office of president of the council, the election shall be held in two rounds. In the second round, the two candidates who obtained more votes than the others in the first round shall proceed.
4.3. In the event of a tie, a second ballot will be held.
- RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE MEETING
5.1. At the beginning of the meeting, councillors may change the order of the items to be discussed on the previously announced agenda if more than half of the councillors present are in favour.
5.2. The members of the Governing Board may attend the meeting of the Council with the right to speak.
5.3. A show of hands is recorded for the purpose of expressing an opinion on a point of order. The Chairperson of the meeting shall call the floor in the order in which they are registered.
5.4. The chairman of the meeting may withdraw any business not relevant to the agenda and may terminate speeches and contributions which impede or disrupt the work of the council.
5.5. The Council may at any time, at the request of a majority of the members present, adjourn the discussion of an item on the agenda if there is insufficient information to adopt a decision. Discussion of the suspended agenda item may be continued at the same or a subsequent meeting.
- DECISION
6.1. The council shall have the power to take decisions on matters announced when the council is convened. Decisions may be taken on matters which have not been announced at the time of the convocation of the council if at least two-thirds of the members of the council are present.
6.2. Decisions of the Council shall be adopted by a simple majority of the members present. In the event of a tie, the President of the Council shall have the casting vote.
6.3. For good cause, a decision of the council may be adopted by written (electronic) ballot without convening a meeting. In the case of a written vote, the decision shall be deemed adopted if at least 2/3 of the members of the council vote in favour. The decision on the necessity of a written vote shall be made by the chairman of the council. The written vote shall be conducted by the Governing Board.
6.4. Decisions are taken by public or secret ballot. Before each council meeting, the chairman of the council shall check the attendance of the councillors on the basis of a list on which each councillor confirms his or her attendance by signature. A councillor who is unable to attend a meeting of the Council for good cause may authorise another councillor to represent him or her. The proxy must be in writing.
6.5. The chairperson of the meeting tallies the results of the votes and informs the participants of the meeting.
- ORGANISING ADMINISTRATION
The council’s administration is organised by the executive board, which ensures the preparation, conduct and taking of minutes of council meetings, the forwarding of documents necessary for the work of the council and the storage of documents.
- CONCLUSIONS
Rules of procedure not provided for in these Rules or in the Statutes shall be decided by the Council by a majority vote.
Approved by the Council at its meeting of 11 February 2004. Amended 19 March 2025.
