Estonia shows concrete signs of an up turn as two state owned giants agreed to wage increases.
Estonia Railways, who have recently signed a cooperation agreement with global Chinese Logistic company Sinotrans Shipping, agreed with trade unions to increase their bonus rate to 7% and, due to lay offs last year, to raise monies paid to railway employees who’s work load has increased as a consequence.
Mining subsidiary of Eesti Energia, Eesti Energia Kaevandused has recently signed a two year agreement to increase wages; 5% for piece work and 11% for time-work. Eesti Energia Kaevanduseds main activity is oil-shale mining in the north-east of Estonia. Last year, 2010, the company mined 17 million tonnes, 3 million more than in 2009, which was all the more remarkable as the company currently employs around 3,000 people, the last time a equivalent amount of oil-shale was mined was in 1992 when the company employed approximately 9,000 workers!
