Eesti Energia cuts 300 jobs, deepening hardship in Ida-Viru

The loss of 300 jobs at Eesti Energia companies will make life harder across Ida-Viru County and accelerate the departure of residents, ERR reports. Politicians preparing for elections are being asked to explain the cuts.

Previous layoffs in the oil shale sector have shown how job losses affect the county: families become poorer, municipalities receive less tax revenue and overall purchasing power falls. More residents leave as a result.

Katri Raik, a member of the Narva City Council, said that when Eesti Energia threatened to cut hundreds of jobs several years ago, the final number of layoffs was smaller, but people who could leave did so. Those who left early found it easier to get work in Tallinn, she said.

A magnet factory that opened in Narva a year ago brought at least 300 jobs to the county. Many people attended its opening, but no one wants to take responsibility for the loss of a similar number of jobs, said Erik Gamzejev, editor-in-chief of the county newspaper Põhjarannik. He said politicians should explain why jobs that benefited the state, workers and the region had suddenly become unnecessary. Instead, people blame market conditions, banks’ refusal to lend and global forces, he said, while no one explains what went wrong.

Raik said the layoffs, expected at the beginning of the year, would affect the results of the spring elections. She said parties could not wait until after the March vote to express concern about Ida-Viru’s choices, adding that the party declaring itself the strongest supporter of oil shale would win votes.

Jobs supported by the Just Transition Fund are not being created fast enough to replace those lost in the oil shale sector. Jobs are disappearing faster and in greater numbers than new ones are emerging.