The second reading of the amendments to the Aliens Act was adjourned in the Riigikogu

At today’s sitting, the Riigikogu discussed the establishment of more flexible conditions for labour migration and learning mobility for people from third countries, which among other things will simplify the inclusion of Ukrainian war refugees in the labour market.

The deliberation of the Bill on Amendments to the Aliens Act and the Act on Granting International Protection to Aliens (241 SE), initiated by the Government was adjourned due to the end of the working hours of the sitting and will continue at tomorrow’s sitting at 2 p.m.

The Bill has been drafted to ensure opportunities to stay in Estonia and to take up study and employment in Estonia for aliens who are contributing to Estonia’s development and whose stay here is in accordance with the public interests and the needs of the Estonian labour market, as well as to enhance the opportunities to verify compliance with the conditions for employment for aliens.

The purpose of the Bill is to organise the regulation for working in Estonia for aliens and the conditions for staying, studying and settling in Estonia for aliens, taking into account the constantly changing environment and the new needs arising therefrom as well as keeping in mind the objectives set out in various national development plans.

The aim of Estonia’s immigration policy is, on the one hand, to facilitate settlement in Estonia for aliens who bring greater added value to the whole society, and on the other hand to avoid abuse of residence permits and visas and illegal immigration in order to ensure security, public order and national security.

In addition to the issues concerning war refugees, the motions to amend that have been submitted provide for the abandonment of the requirement to pay the average wage to third-country nationals, which has been in place until now, and for introducing a separate category of start-up into legislation, which would not be subject to the requirement to pay the average wage. In addition, several other amendments have been provided for that will facilitate migration from third countries.

Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian)

The video recording of the sitting will be available on the Riigikogu YouTube channel.
(Please note that the recording will be uploaded with a delay.)

Source: Parliament of Estonia