Surging labour disputes overwhelm Estonia’s Labour Inspectorate

Estonia’s Labour Inspectorate is seeking funding to hire another chair for its labour dispute commission, as rising caseloads make it difficult to meet legal deadlines, ERR reports. The increase is being driven by economic uncertainty and lengthy applications produced with artificial intelligence, the agency says.

Inspectorate director general Kairi Saarep said the number of commission chairs has remained at eight for about a decade, while the workload has grown. The commission handled 2,593 disputes in the first 10 months of this year, compared with 1,516 in the same period of 2022.

By law, labour disputes must be resolved within 45 calendar days. Saarep warned that missing the deadline could undermine the commission’s purpose of offering a quick and straightforward alternative to court.

Layoff disputes have increased during uncertain economic conditions. Disputes involving citizens of third countries account for nearly a quarter of cases and are often complex, including claims for unpaid wages and difficulties proving the work was done.

Saarep said artificial intelligence has also increased the volume of material commissioners must review. While a typical application may fit on one or two pages, AI-assisted submissions can run to 50, 60, 70, 80 or 100 pages, and sometimes more.

She said the Inspectorate has no research confirming that fraud has increased, although it appears to be happening more often. Saarep also believes workers are more aware of their right to challenge decisions, including in cases involving alleged workplace bullying and non-material damages.

Most disputes do not require a lawyer, she said. For straightforward unpaid-wage claims, workers can often fill in a form on the Inspectorate’s website and attach a bank statement.

Saarep estimates that one commission chair and a secretary can resolve 200 to 300 disputes a year. She said hiring one additional chair would largely address the staffing shortfall.