History

On November 29, 1991, associations of industrial branches formed the Estonian Confederation of Industry (ETKEL), which in the following year started to function also as the representative of employers in social partnership.

An economic crisis hit Estonia in 1992, the first government was established in office. On January 13, 1992, Estonia rejoined the International Labour Organization (ILO). Becoming a member of this organisation created for Estonia the obligation to acknowledge international labour laws, including the primary demand: to solve the core issues of social guarantees between the government, employers and employees by consultations and negotiations. The Estonian Council of ILO was formed in May 1992 and its main function is preparation of the ratification of ILO labour standards.

On May 4, 1995, the organisation of employers ETKEL was reorganised into the Estonian Confederation of Industry and Employers (ETTK). As a result of the reorganisation and with the objective to protect the common interests of employers, the largest organisations and associations of infrastructure, such as the Association of Car Enterprises, Association of Ship Owners, Estonian Railways, Estonian Energy and Confederation of Agricultural Producers also joined the ETTK. On November 20, 1995, the associations of economic branches of the service sphere formed the second Estonian confederation of employers - the Estonian Confederation of Employers Organisations (ETÜKL). Both the ETTK and the ETÜKL acknowledged each other as independent associations of employers, engaged in constructive co-operation and participated together in negotiations with social partners.

In the beginning of 1996, the Estonian Confederation of Industry and Employers forwarded its proposals on the solution of economic and social problems to the then Prime Minister Tiit Vähi. The proposals had been prepared by way of questioning its members and included opinions on the development of the industrial policy of Estonia and the main problems and their solutions. This was the first serious attempt by entrepreneurs to have a say in the area of economic policy.

In the first half of 1997, the boards of directors of the ETTK and the ETÜKL took the standpoint (proceeding from the recommendations of the IOE) that the umbrella organisations of employers should be merged in order to protect the common interests and standpoints of the employers. Negotiations began in September 1997 and they culminated on November 29, 1997 with the creation of the central organisation of employers - Estonian Confederation of Employers and Industry (ETTK). As a result of this, the Executive Committee of the International Organisation of Employers decided to accept the ETTK a member of the IOE on March 25 1998.

On October 21, 1998, the Republic of Estonia and the Estonian Confederation of Industry and Employers signed the lease agreement of the House of Employers. With this, the ETTK received its own house and many branch associations also moved in together with the employees of the ETTK.

The Council of the ETTK Virumaa Department was formed on October 21, 1999, and its objective is to unify and organise the activities of the employers in the Virumaa region in order to facilitate the achievement of the ETTK objectives in East Estonia. The areas of activity of the Virumaa Department are counselling local governments and regional government bodies in enterprising, vocational training, environmental protection, power engineering and investments and mediation of the principles of participation democracy and social partnership.

In July 1999, ETTK was granted the status of an observing member of the UNICE -Union of Industrial and Employers' Confederations of Europe.