COUNTRY SHEET ON YOUTH POLICY IN ESTONIA

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1 COUNTRY SHEET ON YOUTH POLICY IN ESTONIA Marti Taru Last updated: November

2 Contents 1. Context and priorities of national youth policy Statistics on young people Actors and Structures Public authorities National public authorities: Regional public authorities with competencies in the youth field Local public authorities with competencies in the youth field Youth welfare services (public actors) Welfare services and benefits Education Youth work Youth and labor market Measures targeted to support young families and families with children. Family benefits Healthcare and disease prevention Non-public actors/structures & youth services with competencies in the youth field NGO sector Youth councils Youth NGOs Legislation National Programmes on youth Budget / Public expenditure allocated to youth European Dimension of youth policy Council of Europe programmes or activities implemented in an important way for youth purposes (including funding schemes of the European Youth Foundation) European Union programmes Forthcoming events/conferences Current developments/plans with regard to national legislation/ guidelines Current developments/plans with regard to European youth policy

3 Context and priorities of national youth policy As at 1 January 2014, the population of Estonia was estimated to be 1,315,819 which is 4,355 persons fewer than the year before. In 2013 the natural increase was negative, as the number of deaths exceeded the number of births by 1,700. The reason for that was a sharp decline in the number of births compared to 2010, there were 2,000 fewer births in The number of live births in 2013 was Graph 1 gives the number of births since restoration of independence Graph 1. The number of live births (source: Statistics Estonia) The birth rate in 2011 was 11.0 per 1000 residents while the mortality rate reached 11.4 per 1000 residents. The number of live births per 1000 women was 45.4 in , year olds 55, year olds 93, year olds 82, year olds 47, year olds Graph 2. Live births per 1,000 females by age group, 2013 (source: Statistics Estonia) 3 9, year olds 0, year olds 45, year olds

4 In 2013, dependency ratio 1 was 49.9%, ranging from 38.5% to 79.5% in different municipalities. Over the period of last 15 years, the overall ratio has fluctuated between 47.2% and 50.9%. Over the period , net external migration has been negative in all years. In the age group 0-14 year olds net external migration yearly average over that period was people per year, in age group year olds the average was and in age group year olds it was Thus emigration has been the highest in the group of middle-aged people, not among youth. Largest ethnic groups are Estonians (69%), Russians (26%), Ukrainians (2%), Belorussians (1%) and Finns (1%). In the beginning of 2014, the proportion of urban population was 68%. Estonia is a parliamentary democracy, administratively it is a unitary state. The Constitution provides for two further types of government with a large degree of autonomy: local governments and cultural self-governments of ethnic minorities. Administrative division of the country includes 15 counties, 30 towns and 185 rural municipalities (the number of rural municipalities is decreasing slowly since smaller units merge into large ones). The Constitution also provides for the office of the Chancellor of Justice whose task is also to be Ombudsman for Children. The latter institution was established in Youth policy and youth work (policy) is coordinated by the Department of Youth Affairs at Ministry of Education and Research. Youth Work Act defines young person as an individual aged 7-26 years. Though this is the only legislative act which defines age brackets of a category labelled youth or young people, there is a range of other legislative acts which determine rights and duties of different age groups, in approximately the same age range. A more detailed overview of age ranges and associated rights and duties of a person is given in the section on legislation. Youth policy is defined as a purposeful and coordinated activity in different spheres of life that proceeds from the actual needs and challenges of young people. Youth policy is understood as an integrated policy field. The Department of Youth Affairs at the Ministry of Education and Research plays important role in developing policy initiatives which influence young people. The department also holds responsibility for coordinating activities of other ministries which impact living conditions and socialisation of young people, eg Ministry of Social Affairs, Ministry of Justice. Goals of the youth field for years are spelled out in the Youth Field Development Plan Adoption of the development plan announces a shift toward consolidation of youth field as a separate policy field both in terms of substantive goals as well as in terms of its position in Estonian administrative political system. What differentiates this development plan from the previous documents is its approach to focus on goals and measures that are designed to achieve a positive change in the challenges that were identified as most significant. The plan does not describe concrete measures in all areas of youth work and youth policy. The main goal of the development plan maintains that young people will have a comprehensive range of opportunities for self-development and self-realisation and that the 1 Dependency ratio = (population aged population aged 65- ) / (population aged 15-64) * 100% 4

5 youth field will support development of social cohesion and creativity in society in general. The plan contains four sub-goals: young people have more choices in terms of discovering own creative and development potential, young people face a lower risk of exclusion, greater support for the participation of young people in decision-making, the youth field operates more efficiently. 2. Statistics on young people Total population of Estonia at : Number of people aged years: (23.3% of total population) Number of boys aged 10-29: Number of girls aged 10-29: Number of people aged 7-26 years: (22.1%). The number of 7-26 year olds has decreased from in 2005 to in 2014 ( people, -19% of the initial number). 3 Table 1. Age and gender distribution on young people, Boys Girls Total 5-9 year olds yo yo yo yo Source: Statistics Estonia Young people with a different nationality In Estonia different nationality rarely refers to first generation immigrants there are very few young people who moved to the country recently. Most of the non-estonian population was moved to the country during Soviet occupation, between years 1945 and Current non- Estonian youth population is comprised of their children and grandchildren, second and third generation immigrants. The period between 1945 and 1989 was characterised by an extensive immigration into Estonia mostly from Russia, Belorussia and Ukraine. Though people also left Estonia, immigration exceeded emigration by far. Between 1946 and 1989, approximately 1,1 million people, many of them in their 20s, were moved to Estonia as workers. Most of them soon left for other regions in the Soviet Union, but around people of Slavic origin stayed. 4 They settled mainly in North-Eastern part of the country and in cities and towns where industrial enterprises were located. 2 Source: Statistics Estonia 3 Demographich indicators, youth monitoring system, 4 Tiit, E.-M. Eesti rahvastik: Viis põlvkonda ja kümme loendust, Tallinn, / Tiit, E.-M. Population of Estonia: Five Generations and Ten Censuses, Tallinn,

6 In 1989, the number of immigrants and emigrants was about the same. In subsequent years, the number of immigrants decreased, whereas the number of emigrants remained high. When the immigration quota was established in 1990, the migration balance became negative. Already in 1990, before the restoration of independence, an immigration act was passed, which established an immigration quota of 0.1% of the permanent population, and set considerable limits on immigration into Estonia. The conditions of the quota were later repeatedly eased and in 2010 many citizens of western countries were exempted from the quota. 5 Table 2. Ethnic composition of young people by age group, absolute numbers, Estonians Russians Ukrainians Belorussians Finns Other Total 5-9 year olds year olds year olds year olds year olds Total Source: Statistics Estonia, Census Actors and Structures 3.1 Public authorities National public authorities: Ministry in charge of youth: Estonian Ministry of Education and Research 6 Minister: Mr. Jevgeni Ossinosvki, the term ends in March Department responsible for youth: Youth Affairs Department Main goals of the department: Developing legislation to ensure appropriate legislative environment for implementing youth policy. Ensuring purposefulness and consistency in implementation of youth policy. Planning of resources necessary for implementation of youth policy. Ensuring cohesiveness of youth policy. Holding a public dialogue with partners to come to a social agreement on questions pertaining to youth policy. To succeed in achieving the goals listed above, the department carries out a range of tasks. The main task of the department is to arrange activities pertaining to youth policy and youth at the Ministry of Education and Research and to consult the Minister and other ministerial 5 Online Encyclopedia Estonica, emigration and immigration, 6 Homepage of the Ministry of Education and Research, 6

7 officials in youth policy and youth work related themes. In addition to the main task, the statute specifies 17 other tasks to be carried out by the department. 7 Number of people who work in this ministry in the youth department: 5 Director responsible for youth affairs in the Ministry: Ms. Anne Kivimäe, Acting head of the Youth Affairs Department, anne.kivimae@hm.ee Contact person in the youth department competent for European youth policy: Ms. Anne Kivimäe, Acting head of the Youth Affairs Department, anne.kivimae@hm.ee Other national public bodies who are directly involved in youth policies A range of other ministries carry a significant role in the lives of young people. More significant role is carried out by the following ministries: Ministry of Social Affairs, (homepage in English not available in the end of ) Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Defense, Parliament commission in charge of youth issues Name: Cultural Affairs Committee (Kultuurikomisjon), Name of chairman: Mr. Lauri Luik Role and competence: The Committee conducts as leading committee the proceeding of culture-, education- and research-related draft Acts, draft resolutions and statements of the Riigikogu (Estonian Parliament) and Acts of ratification of or accession to international conventions and agreements. Estonian Youth Work Centre (Eesti Noorsootöö Keskus) 9, is a national centre for youth work under the administrative authority of the Ministry of Education and Research. Its main objective is to develop and organise youth work in the framework of the national youth policy. It: Implements the Estonian Youth Field Development Plan and performs other functions arising from the Youth Work Act and other relevant laws Develops international cooperation, Coordinates networking activities, Awards and recognises the professional qualifications of youth workers, Recognises the knowledge and skills acquired through youth work, Assesses the quality of youth work, Managing national youth monitor, 7 Statute of the Youth Affairs Department, directive of the Minister of Education and Researchnr. 889, In 2014, Estonian institutions of public administration, including ministries, adopted similar homepage visual identity and structure. Changing from earlier webpages takes time and in the end of 2014, English website may not be available. 9 Homepage of the Estonian Youth Work Center, 7

8 Finances projects and programs, Advises youth work organisers Manages the Kloogaranna youth camp, Organises the Youth Information Fair Teeviit. Estonian Centre for International cooperation and Quality in the youth field / Estonian National Agency for Erasmus+ (Euroopa Noored) 10 is the national office the youth civic education program which was known as Youth in Action till the end of 2013, and continues as a part of Erasmus+ from 2014 onwards. The agency is an important player in Estonian youth work. It is responsible for supporting international youth work (it supports and finances youth exchanges and European Voluntary Service), it supports other youth project, it has taken leading role in developing non-formal learning and in training of youth workers Regional public authorities with competencies in the youth field There is no regional level of self-government in Estonia. However, Estonia is divided into 15 counties which have also county government. A county is an administrative subdivision of Estonia. Each county's government is led by a governor who represents the national government at the regional level. Governors are appointed by the national government for a term of five years. Each county is further divided into municipalities of two types: urban municipalities (towns) and rural municipalities (parishes). County governors have their own local administration apparatus, and they carry out also some youth work / youth policy activities. Each of the county governments employs one staff member responsible for carrying out youth work and policy activities. County governments also employ officials who, among other duties, carry out duties related to the youth field: education and schooling, sports, cultural events, social assistance, delinquent behaviour, youth with special needs. Providing youth information to youth on county level is a responsibility of county government too. Pursuant to the Youth Work Act, county governors shall: co-ordinate implementation of the national youth policy in the county, analyse youth work in the county and prepare overviews of youth work, supervise use of funds allocated for youth work from the state budget, fulfil other functions arising from legislation. Development plans developed by county governments contain also a section on youth a youth policy development plan but there is no legislation at this level. County governments appear amongst sites for youth participation. Youth participation takes place through county youth councils. County youth councils are youth organisations for young people aged years which work together with county government. County youth councils are active in all 15 counties. Juvenile Sanctions Act stipulates that a committee of juvenile issues is formed at a county government. Committees of juvenile issues are formed and functioning in all 15 counties. In 2014, Government approved memorandum, which relocates the system of juvenile committees 10 Homepage of the Youth in Action Estonian Agency, euroopa.noored.ee 8

9 from youth field (area of responsibility of the Youth Affairs Department at the Ministry of Education and Research) to child protection field (Child and Family Policy Department at the Ministry of Social Affairs). The change is enacted in Local public authorities with competencies in the youth field 11 Estonia is territorially divided into counties, rural municipalities and cities. Rural municipalities and cities are of equal legal status. Estonia has a one-tier local government system since In the beginning of 2014, there was 215 municipalities among which there were 30 cities and 185 rural municipalities. The number of municipalities is decreasing gradually because smaller units merge together. The size of local governments is very different. The biggest municipality is the capital city Tallinn ( inhabitants in the beginning of 2014). One fifth of local government units have less than 1000 inhabitants and two thirds have less than 3000 inhabitants. 12 The main function of a local government is to organise and manage local issues. The responsibilities of local governments are determined by the Local Government Organization Act, and by other acts, contracts and agreements. Among its functions, local governments carry out several which carry significant relevance in the youth field. Education Local governments are responsible for the organization of the maintenance of pre-, basic and secondary schools, if they are in the ownership of the local government, by covering their operational expenses. The teachers of municipal schools get paid from the local government s budget, funds for it are allocated from the state budget. According to the Estonian legislature, local governments also have to organize students transport. Culture and sports Local governments are responsible for the organization of the maintenance of libraries, community centers, museums, sports facilities and other local agencies if these are in the ownership of the local government. In the sports sphere local governments organize and fund local sports events held on their territory. Health care Generally health care is funded from the Estonian Health Insurance Fund, which has its own budget. Local governments, however, are responsible for the provision of first level health care services (family physician) and the organization of the health care institutions (family health centers) located on its territory. Social welfare services In the social welfare sphere the local government is responsible for the organization of the maintenance of shelters, care homes and other social welfare institutions, if they are in the ownership of the local government. Furthermore, local government is responsible for organizing social assistance and the welfare for persons in need of assistance. Pursuant to the Youth Work Act and the Local Governments Organisation Act, a local government is responsible for the organisation of youth work in its administrative territory. Pursuant to the Youth Work Act, rural municipality and city councils: 11 Homepage of the Estonian Ministry of Interior, 12 Homepage of the Estonian Ministry of Interior, 9

10 determine the priorities of youth work in their administrative territories and set out the tasks necessary for the achievement thereof in the rural municipality or city development plans; work out the order for granting financial support to youth organisations; in presence of financial means, offer financial support to youth organisations; consult local youth council in youth work matters; prepare the order of project camps at the territory of the municipality; perform other functions connected with the organisation of youth work in their administrative territories. The local government decides objectives of youth work that shall be implemented in its territory as well as determines youth work methods. The Youth Work Act stipulates that upon preparation of the development plan, representatives of youth associations must be included in the process. Local government often delegates its youth work duties to the third sector by outsourcing certain services, if possible. Budgets of local governments appear amongst important sources to finance youth work. Local municipalities support hobby education outside formal education system and in schools, youth centers, youth projects, youth associations and other forms of youth work. In many municipalities, open youth centres are central institutions for carrying out youth work. Youth centres are managed either by local government directly or by a private organization that has been contracted by the municipality to provide youth work services. Majority private organisations in the field of youth and youth work get most of their finances from local governments. Local governments and city district governments in Tallinn appear amongst sites for youth participation. Youth participation takes place through municipal youth councils, which are defined in the Youth Work Act. Municipal youth councils are youth organisations for young people aged years which work together with local municipalities at local level. Youth participation through municipal youth councils is supported by a national program. In 2013, municipal youth councils were active in 66 municipalities. In Tallinn, Tallinn youth council has organised city district roundtables which give young people an opportunity to participate in administration and politics of the city. Youth councils are involved mainly in the areas which are relevant for children and young people: leisure time, youth work and non-formal learning. They are involved also in related areas like public transport, using school facilities, community associations and organisations, and in other similar areas which border youth work. Youth councils work together with local government, more concretely with municipal committees like Educational Committee, Transport Committee etc. They also participate in budget processes. Youth councils are in contact with other youth organisations as well as with student councils at schools located within borders of a municipality. Though municipal youth councils are open to all young people aged years, in reality there are very few participants from the younger end of the age range. Members of the councils are usually active also in other youth organisations, often in school student council. 10

11 Juvenile Sanctions Act maintains that committees of juvenile issues may be formed also at municipal level. In 2014, the committees were formed and functioning in 45 municipalities plus in 8 Tallinn city districts. 3.2 Youth welfare services (public actors) The following section gives an overview of welfare services in the narrow meaning services and benefits aimed to assure coping of a person / family, as well as in the wider meaning services provided to assure wellbeing and socialization of young people Welfare services and benefits In the Republic of Estonia, welfare services in the narrow sense are organised in accordance with the Social Welfare Act, adopted in Pursuant to the act, "social welfare" means a system of procedures related to the provision or grant of social services, social benefits, emergency social assistance and other assistance. "Coping" means the physical or psychosocial ability of a person or family to manage in everyday life. "Social service" means a nonmonetary benefit which contributes towards the ability of a person or family to cope. "Social benefit" means a monetary benefit provided to contribute towards the ability of a person or family to cope. The following have the right to receive social services, social benefits and other assistance: permanent residents of Estonia, aliens residing in Estonia on the basis of residence permits or right of residence, persons enjoying international protection staying in Estonia. Social welfare is administered by the Minister of Social Affairs, the county governors and the local governments. State social welfare is administered by the Minister of Social Affairs and the county governors. County governors administer state social welfare in counties through the appropriate department of the county government. Local government social welfare is administered by the rural municipality or city government. Social welfare institutions having relevance for youth are: substitute homes places for the provision of the substitute home service to children, youth homes institutions established for living and rehabilitation for young people over 15 years of age who are from substitute homes, schools for students with special needs, residential educational institutions or have been left without parental care; residential educational institutions institutions established for living, care, development and education for disabled school-age children. In 2014, there were 36 substitute homes which provided both the substitute home service and youth home service. In practice, substitute home service and youth home service are provided at the same place in substite home villages. 13 In 2014, 42 schools appeared in the list of residential educational institutions and 693 pupils were supported from state budget to live there. There are two kinds of social benefits: Subsistence benefit, Needs-based family benefit. 13 Information obtained from the Ministry of Social Affaris 11

12 Subsistence benefit A person living alone or a family whose monthly net income, after the deduction of the fixed expenses connected with dwelling, is below the subsistence level has the right to receive a subsistence benefit. Subsistence level is established based on minimum expenses made on consumption of foodstuffs, clothing, footwear and other goods and services which satisfy the primary needs. Subsistence benefit is paid from national budget and administered by local municipalities. In 2014, national subsistence benefit paid from national budget was 90 EUR per month for the first member of the family and 72 EUR per month for each other member of the family. In case when all family members, except the recipient of the subsistence benefit, are minors then additional 15 EUR per month is paid from national budget. Local municipalities have the right to pay additional subsistence benefits. Those families with children who receive the subsistence benefit have also the right to apply for needs-based family benefit. Table 3. Subsistence benefits paid in 2013 Subsistence benefits to guarantee subsistence level, euros Subsistence benefit to guarantee subsistence level per application satisfied, euros Number of applications satisfied to guarantee subsistence level Whole country , Northern Estonia , Central Estonia , Northeastern Estonia , Western Estonia , Southern Estonia , Source: Statistics Estonia Needs-based family benefit If at least one member of a family is a child receiving child allowance on the basis of the State Family Benefits Act, the family has the right to receive a needs-based family benefit provided that the average monthly net income of the family is below the income threshold of needsbased family benefit. In 2014, needs-based family benefit was 9.59 EUR per month for a family with one child and EUR per month for a family with two or more children. In 2015, the benefits will double and will be EUR per month for a family with one child and EUR per month for a family with two or more children. Local municipalities have the right to pay additional benefits Education By law, children who attain 7 years of age by 1st of October of the current year are subject to the obligation to attend school. Students are subject to the obligation to attend school until they acquire basic education (9 years of full-time studies in formal education system) or attain 17 years of age. 14 The Act also foresees study opportunities for people older than 17 and who 14 Basic Schools and Upper Secondary Schools Act. Par. 9 X&query=p%F5hikooli%2D+ja last visited

13 have not acquired basic education 15. Acquisition of basic education in state and municipal schools is without tuition i.e. it is financed from national and local budgets. For individuals of at least 18 years of age and without having obtained basic education, a limited number of study places in state financed vocational training programs are available Education allowances and loans There are several policy measures that support acquisition of education. Financial aid for studies and education allowance are regulated by Study Allowances and Study Loans Act 16, adopted in According to the Act, students acquiring vocational secondary education and higher education can apply for a student loan, state education allowance or various scholarships. Education allowances 17 Education allowances are paid from the state budget every month on the basis of the decision of the educational institution to students who have applied through an educational institution. Basic allowance and supplementary allowance Students who are acquiring a vocational secondary education and higher education have the right to apply for a basic allowance and supplementary allowance for covering expenses on housing and transport. Basic and supplementary allowances can be applied for five months twice a year in September and February. A first-year student can apply for allowances once a year in February. The allowances shall be determined in the extent of the funds allocated to the educational institution pursuant to the rankings of the students. In 2014, students who are acquiring vocational secondary education on the basis of basic or secondary education have the right to apply for main allowance of euro and euro in the case of supplementary allowance. In addition, pupils of have the right to apply for transportation allowance. In addition, vocational school students are guaranteed warm meal at school which is financed from national budget in the sum of 0.78 euro per meal. Students who are acquiring higher education get educational allowance euro, and euro in the case of supplementary allowance. Doctoral allowance Doctoral students receive doctoral allowance for 12 months per year. The amount of the doctoral allowance in 2014 is euro a month. Special allowance Special allowance is paid by education institution and its amount is decided by the institution. Special allowance is paid usually for economic reasons in vocational schools and in colleges and universities. Study loan is a state-guaranteed long-term loan for funding costs of tuition. The right to receive a study loan is held by a full-time student who is an Estonian citizen or resides in 15 Ibid. Par. 7 last visited Gateway to Estonia, Financial aid for studies and education allowance, ada_1 13

14 Estonia on the basis of a long-term residence permit or permanent residency. The maximum permissible amount of study loan shall be reviewed and determined by 1st of August of each year by the Government of the Republic. A loan may be applied for at any time during the academic year, from mid-september to 1st of June. A study loan may be taken for the duration of the standard term of study for a given curriculum. Study loans are available from all major banks. For more information on the conditions and the application process, contact the bank. Study loans are granted on the basis of the Study Allowances and Study Loans Act. Maximum amount of study loan is euro. Tuition loan is a loan that can be used to pay only for paid studies. Education loan is a loan for undergraduate students, master s degree and doctoral students enrolled in daytime study, for covering monthly costs of living or tuition. An education loan makes it possible for students not eligible for a study loan to take out a loan. A loan can also be applied for by parents for financing their children s training. Student house allowance Vocational school may waive the cost of living in a student house by paying it, fully or partly, from its budget. Commuting and transportation allowance Commuting and transportation allowance is paid to students of vocational schools who have registered place of permanent residence in other settlement or location. School lunch allowance For 1-3 grade pupils, school lunch is paid from national budget since Since 2006, all 1-9 grade pupils receive a certain sum from national budget to cover (part of) the costs of providing lunch in school. Since 2011, the sum paid from national budget is 0.78 EUR per student per lunch. Pupils in vocational schools receive similar sum of school lunch allowance as pupils in primary schools. Starting from 2015, also pupils in secondary schools and gymnasiums will get school lunch allowance. Local municipalities pay for food in kindergartens. The allowance is not universal but dependent on needs of a child. First grade entering allowance One time allowance to enter the first Grande that is paid by local municipalities. Amount of the allowance varies across municipalities from 13 EUR to 320 EUR, in most municipalities it remains around 50 EUR. School-start allowance Several municipalities pay school-start allowance also to pupils entering higher grade that the first grade. Amount of the allowance is similar with the first grade entering allowance. 14

15 3.2.3 Youth work Youth Work Act stipulates that youth work is the creation of conditions to promote the diverse development of young persons which enable them to be active outside their families, formal education system and work, on the basis of their free will. Youth work is a youth policy area which cuts across other policy areas. Also, youth work sets young person in the center of attention. Youth work is carried out by a range of actors. The list of youth work service providers includes: Local municipalities, Estonian Centre for International cooperation and Quality in the youth field / Estonian National Agency for Erasmus+, Youth organisations and associations, Hobby schools and rings, including sports as a form of hobby education, Youth centres, Youth recreation camps, Formal education system (student councils and hobby rings), Counselling and information centres, Juvenile delinquency committees. Pursuant to Youth Work Act adopted in 2010, the following shall be supported from the state budget through the budget of the Ministry of Education and Research: youth programmes and youth projects; national programmes for developing youth work; youth studies; youth work agencies; international cooperation in the field of youth work; training youth workers; youth work associations; activities of youth organizations (annual grant). An important aspect of youth policy and youth work policy is quality management of youth work service and assurance of quality of the service. Quality management in the field of youth policy and youth work (policy) is implemented in six areas: activities of national level youth field actors are monitored and coordinated by the Ministry of Education and Research and the EYWC. The EYWC is responsible for running youth monitoring system, consisting of a system of indicators of youth living conditions, a yearbook and a database of research on young people. local municipalities use youth work quality evaluation system to assess and improve provision of youth work service; youth centres, youth organisations, youth information and counselling and juvenile committees use quality management guidelines to plan, carry out and evaluate their activities; ministries and youth work actors commission independent evaluation research of their activities and use the obtained results to improve their activities; professionals working with young people are required to meet standards set forth by professional standards. Professional standards have been adopted for a range of 15

16 specialists who work with young people directly (eg youth worker, career counsellor, youth information specialist, youth camp manager-teacher and other professionals working with children and young people); youth worker education and training - youth worker degree programs are provided by three institutions of tertiary education: Pedagogical College of the Tallinn University runs a bachelor level program of applied higher education in youth work Viljandi Culture Academy of the University of Tartu runs a bachelor level program of applied higher education in leisure time manager-teacher Narva College of the University of Tartu runs a bachelor level program of applied higher education in youth work A wide range of non-degree training courses was organised by Estonian Centre for International cooperation and Quality in the youth field / Estonian National Agency for Erasmus+ and the EYWC and financed from European Social Fund until In addition, youth organisations themselves organize trainings for volunteers and youth leaders. In 2013, youth service provision was characterized by the following figures:: youth centers; 526 organisations offering hobby education; 81 active youth councils; 20 county level information and counselling centers; More than 43youth associations and youth organisations; Youth projects and events. Altogether there are more than 800 organisations offering youth work services and more than 5000 youth workers. 19 Youth work services and methods are integrated in implementing Youth Guarantee in Estonia since it is believed that youth work as an environment for non-formal learning supports increase in employability of young people Youth and labor market Unemployment measures At national level, Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund Töötukassa 20 is the key player. Currently the fund offers a range of active labour market measures, the number of different measures increased from 5 in 2005 to 27 in 2012, but there are nearly no special measures 18 Batueva, V Ülevaade muutustest noorte eluolus, Noorteseire aastaraamat 2013, Tallinn: Praxis / An overview of living conditions of young people, Youth Monitoring Yearbook 2013, Tallinn: Praxis. 19 Information obtained from Estonian Youth Work Center 20 Homepage of Töötukassa, 16

17 targeted to fight unemployment of young people. 21 However, even if the measures aimed to support and help unemployed people are accessible to all people, young people are amongst most active users of the service. Unemployment fund offers several measures that help young people in hard times at labour market: Career counselling; Work practice and internship; Subsidised salary (paid to young people). Certain amount is paid to employers so that they could employ young unemployed people; Professional training. There are two kinds of transfers to unemployed persons, unemployment insurance benefit and unemployment allowance. Unemployment insurance benefit In order to receive unemployment insurance benefits, one must have paid unemployment insurance contributions. This is a percentage of wage that is sent to the Unemployment Insurance Fund and that is used to fund the system. In order to be eligible for the unemployment insurance benefit, contributions have to be paid for a person for at least 12 months during the past 36 months. These periods are counted back from the date on which the person is registered as unemployed. If one has taken up pregnancy leave, maternity leave or parental leave during the 36-month reference period, the period which is taken into account is extended with the duration of the leave. Two other conditions must be met to qualify for the benefit. Previous employment must have ended through no fault of the person. This means that one can only receive a benefit when his or her employer has terminated the contract, or when the contract has run out. No benefit is granted when one has left his or her job by choice, on his or her own initiative, or following a mutual agreement with the employer, or when the person has been dismissed due to an infringement, loss of confidence, or indecent act or act of corruption. The one exception to this rule is when the person has resigned on his or her own initiative because the employer breached the contract by violating the terms and conditions of the contract or changed the organisation of production or work. As the unemployment insurance benefit is meant to help you look for new employment, actively searching for work is a requirement to receive the benefit. One can demonstrate his or her willingness to work by registering with Töötukassa, which is a condition to gain access to almost all of the services and benefits that are offered to unemployed persons, and to participate in all the services that are offered. When a suitable job is offered to a person, refusing it will signal that the person is no longer actively looking for work, and will therefore mean that the person will no longer receive the unemployment insurance benefit. The amount of the unemployment insurance benefit depends on one s insurance record. The daily amount one receives is calculated on the bases of the wages one has received during the last twelve months of the insurance period. Of those twelve months, only the first nine are taken into account. The latest three months are disregarded. On the basis of the record for nine months, an average daily remuneration is calculated, which is used for the calculation of the benefit, but only up to three times the average daily remuneration in Estonia of the year that precedes the one during which the benefit is calculated. 21 Homepage of Töötukassa 2014, Aktiivsed tööturumeetmed / active labor market policy measures, 17

18 One can receive 50% of this calculated value for the first 100 calendar days during which the benefit is received, and 40% for the subsequent days. Because your previous wage is only taken into account up to a certain amount, there is a maximum limit (37.94 euro for the first 100 calendar days and euro for the subsequent days) as to how much unemployment benefit anyone can receive. There is also a minimum amount, which is set at half of the national minimum wage. The duration of the benefit is expressed as a number of days during which one can receive the unemployment insurance benefit. This number depends on one s insurance period, which takes into account all the months during which unemployment insurance contributions have been paid: If one has an insurance period of less than 56 months, one can receive the benefit for 180 calendar days; If one has an insurance period of more than 56 months, but less than 111 months, one can receive the benefit for 270 calendar days; If one has an insurance period of 111 months or more, one can receive the benefit for 360 calendar days. Table 4. The number of persons who received unemployment insurance benefit in 2013 by age group year olds until pension age Source: Statistics Estonia Unemployment allowance If one does not meet the conditions to receive an unemployment insurance benefit, or if one has exhausted one s rights to a benefit, one may still qualify for the unemployment allowance. The unemployment allowance is paid to unemployed persons who do not qualify for the unemployment insurance benefit, who actively look for work, who have worked or finished full-time studies, and who have an income that is less than the allowance. The requirement to be involuntarily unemployment does not apply. The unemployment allowance is eur per month in 2014 and it is paid for a maximum period of 270 days. In 2010, young people received unemployment allowance, it constituted 28% of all people receiving unemployment allowance. 22 Youth guarantee The aim of the Youth Guarantee is to ensure that young people under the age of 25 receive a good-quality offer of employment, continued education, an apprenticeship or a traineeship within a period of four months of becoming unemployed or leaving formal education. In addition to the existing measures preventing youth unemployment (education, youth work, career services and labor market services), the Ministry of Education and Research and the Ministry of Social Affairs have outlined measures for the following ESF period ( ) to 22 Nurmela, K Noortele suunatud tööturuteenused. In Noorteseire aastaraamat 2010, Tallinn: Praxis / Youth targeted labor market integration support measures. In Youth Monitoring Yearbook 2010, Tallinn: Praxis. 18

19 prevent and reduce youth unemployment. The additional measures are planned to strengthen the concurrence of different exiting measures and to focus on helping weaker target groups. Youth Guarantee activities shall begin in Measures targeted to support young families and families with children. Family benefits Demographic background The number of marriages has decreased notably over the period of 1992 to Instead of official marriage, young people prefer co-habitation. In 2009, approximately two thirds of year olds said in a survey that they lived with a partner or a spouse. According to Statistics Estonia, the percentage of married year olds in 2011 was only 6.1%. Table 5. Habitation patterns in year olds year olds with parents 87% 16% Alone 2% 16% with friends 5% 2% with spouse/partner 3% 64% Other 2% 1% Source: author s calculations, based on National Youth Monitor Survey, conducted in July 2009 Between 1992 and 2011, the age of giving birth to a child has become older. Total number of children born to mothers in age group years old decreased from approximately 9800 in 1992 to 3300 in 2011, and the number of children born to years old mothers increased from approximately 6900 in 1991 to 8700 in This trend has an interpretation that state benefits targeted to support families with children increasingly go to older age groups of young people. There are more than 10 different allowances paid to families with children. Below an overview of the benefits is given. Parental benefit 24 The Parental Benefit Act 25 is designed to contribute to the successful intertwining of work and family life. The benefit itself provides parents with their average salary from the preceding calendar year for the time that they temporarily take off work to care for their children. Any parent, adoptive parent, step-parent, guardian or foster parent who is raising a child and who is a permanent resident of Estonia or a foreigner living in Estonia on the basis of a temporary residence permit has the right to the parental benefit. The father of a child has the right to the parental benefit once the child has reached the age of 70 days. If the initial recipient of the parental benefit is the father, the mother must prove that she is not on parental leave. People have the right to receive the parental benefit from the day following the final day of pregnancy and maternity or adoption leave. Parental benefit is paid for the period of 435 days. If a mother hasn't right to maternity leave she has the right to the parental benefit starting from the moment her child is born. If the mother hasn't right to maternity leave, the parental benefit is paid until the child reaches the age of 18 months. 23 Ministry of Social Affairs, Youth Guarantee, 24 Homepage of Social Insurance Board, 25 Parental Benefit Act, Passed , RT I 2003, 82, 549, 19

20 The parental benefit is calculated on the basis of the income subject to social tax earned in the calendar year prior to the day on which the right to the benefit arose. Income from work on which social tax is paid in Estonia is considered income. If the state pays social tax on behalf of a person, this is not considered to be work income. Nor is income earned abroad which is not subject to social tax in Estonia taken into consideration. If the parent did not work during the year preceding the time at which the right to the benefit arises, the parental benefit is paid at the designated benefit base rate, which in 2014 is 320 eur per month. If the parent worked during this year but his or her average income was lower than the minimum wage, the benefit is paid at the minimum wage rate, which in 2014 was 355 eur per month. The upper limit of the amount of the parental benefit is three times the average salary from the year before last, which in 2014 was 2378,25 eur per month. If a mother has the right to take pregnancy and maternity leave but does not use it, the parental benefit is paid at not higher than the minimum wage rate for the first 70 days. Table 6. Persons receiving parental benefit by type of benefit and sex in 2013 Males Females Males, % Females, % Total % 93% Parental benefit in the amount of 100% of the income in one calendar month* % 91% Parental benefit in the rate of the parental benefit** % 99% Parental benefit in the rate of the minimum monthly wages*** % 99% Parental benefit in the maximum rate**** % 79% Source: Statistics Estonia * shall be 100% of the average income per calendar month, except when an applicant for the benefit did not receive income subject to social tax during the last calendar year or when the average income of an applicant per calendar month is less than the minimum monthly wages or more than three times the average income subject to social tax in Estonia per calendar month. ** shall be paid if an applicant for the benefit did not receive income subject to social tax during the last calendar year. The rate of the parental benefit is euros since *** shall be paid if the average income of an applicant per calendar month is less than the minimum monthly wages. **** the maximum amount of the benefit per calendar month shall be three times the average income subject to social tax in Estonia per calendar month. State family benefits 26 State family benefits are regulated by State Family Benefits Act 27. There are nine categories of family benefits. 1. Childbirth allowance is a single benefit paid in case of birth. The amount of benefit is 320 euro. In the case of a multiple birth of three or more children, the amount of childbirth allowance is 1000 euro for each child. 26 Homepage of Social Insurance Board 27 State Family Benefits Act, Passed , RT I 2001, 95,