Overview of the Chamber’s key activities in the first quarter of 2026
In the first quarter of 2026, the Chamber submitted written opinions on 89 draft laws or other policy documents.
In the first quarter, the main focus was primarily on labour-related issues. For example, an amendment to the Employment Contracts Act entered into force, based on the Chamber’s proposal, restoring the previous regulation on weekly rest time. In addition, amendments allowing flexible working time agreements also entered into force. We also supported amendments to the Aliens Act that reached the Riigikogu, creating an exception for recruiting skilled workers from third countries in sectors where it has not been possible to find employees in Estonia. In addition, we submitted further proposals to simplify requirements related to the working environment.
It is also positive that amendments to the Traffic Act reached the Riigikogu, allowing longer vehicle combinations than before to drive on main roads under a special permit. Likewise, the Chamber’s earlier proposal to abolish the alcohol register has been included in the draft law.
We continued to oppose initiatives that would unreasonably increase the burden on businesses. For example, we opposed the European Commission’s idea of introducing mandatory targets for the share of zero- and low-emission vehicles in the fleets of large companies. In addition, we repeatedly proposed giving businesses more time to adapt to new requirements.
The most important issues in the first quarter of 2026
Labour policy win: the previous regulation on weekly rest time was restored
On 13 February, an amendment to the Employment Contracts Act entered into force at the Chamber’s initiative, according to which the employer must ensure that the employee has at least 48 consecutive hours of rest every week, and 36 hours in the case of an employee working according to a schedule. Previously, the interpretation in Estonia was that weekly rest time together with daily rest time had to amount to at least 59 hours, and 47 hours for a scheduled worker.
Several of the Chamber’s proposals were included in the energy sector development plan
On 8 January, the Government approved the Energy Sector Development Plan until 2035, the aim of which is to ensure Estonia’s energy security, increase the country’s competitiveness, and support the transition to a clean-energy economy. In the Chamber’s view, the approved development plan is significantly more realistic than the earlier working versions and focuses more on how to ensure electricity at a competitive end price for businesses.
Labour policy win: flexible working time agreements will soon be permitted
In recent years, the Chamber has repeatedly proposed that the state amend the Employment Contracts Act so that employers and employees could agree more flexibly on working time. On 13 February, amendments entered into force allowing the employer and employee to conclude a flexible working time agreement, meaning that working time can be agreed as a range. For example, the parties may agree that the employee works 20–30 hours per week, of which the employer must always guarantee 20 hours and 10 hours are additional hours.
We submitted further proposals to simplify occupational health and safety rules
Although the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications has included several of the Chamber’s earlier proposals in the draft law amending the Occupational Health and Safety Act, which help make working environment requirements more reasonable, we submitted additional proposals to the ministry in mid-March to reduce unreasonable bureaucracy. For example, we pointed out that the current system for preparing risk assessments is unreasonably complicated for micro and small businesses and turns risk assessment into a purely bureaucratic obligation. We therefore proposed replacing the extensive risk assessment with a simplified checklist-based solution, under which the employer confirms the absence of typical hazards or that such hazards have been mitigated.
Labour policy win: longer and heavier vehicle combinations will soon be allowed in traffic
We supported amendments to the Traffic Act currently under consideration in the Riigikogu, which would make it possible to use vehicle combinations up to 25.25 metres in length and with an actual mass of up to 60 tonnes on Estonian roads under a special permit. These longer and heavier vehicle combinations could in future be used on the main routes Tallinn–Pärnu–Ikla, Tallinn–Tartu–Võru–Luhamaa, Tallinn–Narva, the Tallinn ring road and the Paldiski direction, as well as Jõhvi–Tartu–Valga. The Chamber has been speaking for years about the need for such a change.
The implementation of shelter and refuge space requirements needs clearer rules
The Ministry of the Interior has prepared a draft regulation intended to establish requirements for shelters, principles for adapting refuge spaces, and rules for preparing shelter plans. In the Chamber’s view, the objective of the amendments—strengthening the protection of the population—is important, but the implementation of the draft may create a significant burden for businesses due to unclear implementation practices, the lack of guidance materials, and additional costs.
The state is taking the right approach to labour migration
Together with 11 business associations, the Chamber sent an appeal to the Riigikogu supporting amendments to the Aliens Act that create an exception for recruiting skilled workers from third countries in sectors where it has not been possible to find employees in Estonia.
New environmental claims rules must not lead to the destruction of goods
Amendments to the Consumer Protection Act are currently before the Riigikogu. Under these amendments, it will in future be prohibited, among other things, to make general environmental claims about a product or service, such as “environmentally friendly,” “climate neutral,” or “green,” if there are no substantiated explanations for those claims or if the product does not have a recognised eco-label.
The new requirements will enter into force on 27 September 2026. The Chamber proposed to the Riigikogu that products placed on the market before that date should be allowed to be sold until stocks run out, in order to prevent waste and environmental harm caused by destroying packaging that does not comply with the new requirements.
The length of annual leave should be the same in both the private and public sectors
At the end of March, we proposed to the Riigikogu that the Public Service Act be amended so that the basic annual leave of officials would in future be 28 calendar days instead of the current 35 calendar days, that is, the same length as in the private sector. As a general rule, working as a public official is not more exhausting than working in the private sector in a way that would automatically justify longer basic annual leave. Examples from other countries also indicate that Estonia’s current solution is rather exceptional.
Labour policy win: work during sick leave is allowed from the 31st day of sick leave
On 1 April, an amendment to the Health Insurance Act entered into force based on the Chamber’s proposal, allowing an employee to work part-time or perform lighter duties during sick leave starting from the 31st day of sick leave. Previously, this had only been allowed starting from the 61st day of sick leave.
We support the plan that employers will no longer have to store health check decisions themselves
The Chamber expressed support for the proposal of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications according to which, from July 2026, employers will no longer be required to store employees’ occupational health check decisions themselves. According to the draft, the decisions will begin to move automatically into the health information system, from which the employer will be able to access them through the Labour Inspectorate’s self-service environment.
The new Professions Act must not reduce the role of businesses in the qualifications system
In mid-March, we sent the Ministry of Education and Research our opinion on the draft of the new Professions Act, the aim of which is to update Estonia’s qualifications system and reshape it into a broader system of qualifications and skills. In the Chamber’s view, the main purpose of the law must be to strengthen the link between education and the world of work, but the draft contains several points that may reduce the role of businesses in the qualifications system.
For example, we pointed out as one problem the conditions for creating occupational standards. Under the draft, an occupational standard is prepared if the existence of a qualification is necessary for entering the labour market. The Chamber believes that occupational standards should also be able to be prepared when a qualification is not legally mandatory, but there is a justified need for it in the labour market. Likewise, the creation and updating of occupational standards should be clearly linked to sectoral expert bodies and labour market input.
The Chamber does not support extending the competence of labour dispute committees to disputes related to occupational accidents and occupational diseases
We opposed the proposal of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications to extend the competence of labour dispute committees to disputes concerning compensation for damage caused by health impairment, bodily injury, or death resulting from an occupational accident or occupational disease. In the Chamber’s view, such a change would not fit with the quick and simple procedural model of labour dispute committees, and it would increase the likelihood that decisions would be appealed to the courts.
Labour policy win: the alcohol register will soon be abolished
Since 2018, the Chamber has repeatedly proposed abolishing the alcohol register in order to reduce the administrative burden on alcohol handlers and enable new products to be brought to market more quickly and at lower cost. At the beginning of 2026, we supported a draft law abolishing the alcohol register.
The Chamber does not consider it necessary to introduce new requirements to accelerate the uptake of zero-emission vehicles
The Chamber opposes the European Commission’s initiative to introduce mandatory targets for the share of zero- and low-emission vehicles in the fleets of large companies. This would amount to overregulation and could increase costs for businesses. The Chamber’s views are also reflected in the official position of the Estonian state.
We requested a longer transition period for amendments to consumer credit rules
At the beginning of February, we proposed to the Ministry of Justice and Digital Affairs that the deadline for transposing the amendments to the Consumer Credit Directive into Estonian law be postponed beyond 20 November of this year. Since the amendments affect, among other things, the content and format of pre-contractual information documents, the methods of presenting information to consumers, creditworthiness assessment processes, and new information and advisory obligations, implementing the new requirements may require businesses to change information systems, customer communication processes, and staff training. We therefore requested more time for businesses to implement the changes.
Businesses must not be penalized for failing to notify the authorities of an idea
The Chamber submitted a proposal to the Riigikogu and the Ministry of Climate to repeal a provision of the Industrial Emissions Act that allows an entrepreneur to be fined up to 200,000 euros if the entrepreneur fails to notify the Environmental Board of a planned modification to the operation of an installation covered by an integrated environmental permit. In the Chamber’s view, the current regulation is disproportionate, creates ambiguity, and does not ensure legal certainty, because it allows a business to be penalized even if it has failed to notify the Environmental Board of an idea for a change that has not yet been implemented.
Regulatory clarity and high-quality, accessible data are key to the development of AI
The European Union came forward with a Data Union Strategy and an AI application strategy, addressing solutions for increasing businesses’ access to high-quality data for AI development, accelerating the uptake of AI, and promoting the free flow of data. We supported the objective of simplifying the European Union’s data rules and reducing overlap between them. For businesses, the development of AI requires legal clarity and clear guidance that would help them understand and apply the requirements consistently.