Legislation

(Unofficial translation into English)¹

Consolidated text, adopted on 29.01.2004

Government of the Republic

Regulation No. 249 of August 16, 1999

(RT² I 1999, 66, 656),

entered into force on August 21, 1999

amended by the following Regulations:

29.01.2004 entered into force 07.02.2004 – RT I 2004, 6, 34;

12.08.2003 entered into force 29.08.2003 – RT I 2003, 58, 392;

05.11.2002 entered into force 15.11.2002 – RT I 2002, 93, 536;

09.10.2001 entered into force 20.10.2001 – RT I 2001, 82, 491;

16.05.2001 entered into force 01.10.2001 – RT I 2001, 48, 269;

24.04.2001 entered into force 01.05.2001 – RT I 2001, 41, 229.

Pursuant to subsection 5 (4) and subsections 51 (4) and (5) of the Language Act (RT I 1995, 23, 334; 1996, 37, 739; 40, 773; 1997, 69, 1110; 1998, 98/99, 1618; 1999, 1, 1; 16, 275; 60, 618; 2000, 51, 326; 2001, 58, 354; 65, 375; 93, 565; 2002, 9, 47; 53, 337; 63, 387; 90, 521; 2003, 82, 551) and based on subsection 93 (3) of the Public Service Act (RT I 1995, 16, 228; 1999, 7, 112; 10, 155; 16, 271; 276; 2000, 25, 144; 145; 28, 167; 102, 672; 2001, 7, 17; 18; 17, 78; 24, 133; 42, 233; 47, 260; 2002, 21, 117; 62, 377; 110, 656; 2003, 4, 22; 13, 67; 69; 20, 116; 51, 349; 58, 387; 90, 601), the Government of the Republic resolves:

1. To approve:
1. "Mandatory Levels of Proficiency in Estonian for Public Servants and Employees of State Agencies Administered by Government Agencies and of Local Government Agencies, Employees of Legal Persons in Public Law and Agencies Thereof" (annexed);

   (16.05.2001 entered into force 01.10.2001 – RT I 2001, 48, 269)

2. "Extent of and Procedure for Consultations Prior to Estonian Language Proficiency Examinations" (annexed);
3. "Format of Certificate of Proficiency in Estonian Language" (annexed).
2. To substitute the words "Government of the Republic Regulation No. 31 of January 29, 1996 "Establishment of Requirements for Proficiency in and Use of the Estonian Language for Public Servants in State Agencies and Local Governments and Employees of Agencies, Enterprises and Organizations who Communicate with Persons in their Professional Activities" (RT I 1996, 8, 168)" in clause 24 of the "Evaluation Requirements for Basic Categories of Office" approved by the Government of the Republic Regulation No. 293 of November 19, 1996 (RT I 1996, 82, 1461; 1999, 66, 656) with the words "the Language Act (RT I 1995, 23, 334; 1996, 37, 739; 40, 773; 1997, 69, 1110; 1998, 98/99, 1618; 1999, 1, 1; 16, 275)".
3. To repeal:
1. Government of the Republic Regulation No. 204 of July 2, 1993 "Concerning Procedure for Teaching Estonian to Adult Residents not Proficient in Official Language"(RT I 1993, 47, 649; 1996, 41, 798);
2. Government of the Republic Regulation No. 168 of April 7, 1995 "Organization of Examination of Work-Related Proficiency in Official Language"(RT I 1995, 41, 598);
3. Clauses 1-5 of the "Establishment of Requirements for Proficiency in and Use of the Estonian Language for Public Servants in State Agencies and Local Governments and Employees of Agencies, Enterprises and Organizations who Communicate with Persons in Their Professional Activities" approved by Government of the Republic Regulation No. 31 of January 29, 1996 (RT I 1996, 8, 168; 1999, 66, 656).
4. To establish, by a separate regulation, mandatory levels of proficiency in Estonian for employees of companies, non-profit associations and foundations and sole proprietors.

   (16.05.2001 entered into force 01.10.2001 – RT I 2001, 48, 269)

5. To apply, until entry into force of the regulation specified in clause 4 of this Regulation, to employees of companies, non-profit associations and foundations and sole proprietors who are not employed or do not operate as doctors, pharmacists or psychologists clauses 6-10 of the "Establishment of Requirements for Proficiency in and Use of the Estonian Language for Public Servants in State Agencies and Local Governments and Employees of Agencies, Enterprises and Organizations who Communicate with Persons in their Professional Activities" approved by Government of the Republic Regulation No. 31 of January 29, 1996
6. (Repealed – 29.01.2004 entered into force 07.02.2004 – RT I 2004, 6, 34)

Approved by Government of the Republic Regulation No. 249 of August 16, 1999

MANDATORY LEVELS OF PROFICIENCY IN ESTONIAN FOR PUBLIC SERVANTS AND EMPLOYEES OF STATE AGENCIES ADMINISTERED BY GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, EMPLOYEES OF LEGAL PERSONS IN PUBLIC LAW AND AGENCIES THEREOF

(16.05.2001 entered into force 01.10.2001 – RT I 2001, 48, 269)

I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

1. Mandatory levels of proficiency in Estonian (hereinafter language proficiency) are hereby established for the following:
1. public servants, employees of state agencies administered by government agencies and of local government agencies, employees of legal persons in public law and agencies thereof based on the classification, basic category of office and nature of the work of the public servant;
2. (Repealed – 16.05.2001 entered into force 01.10.2001 – RT I 2001, 48, 269)

1¹. Mandatory levels of language proficiency for regular soldiers, regular non-commissioned officers and regular officers are provided by the requirements for proficiency in the Estonian language for regular soldiers, regular non-commissioned officers and regular officers established by the Government of the Republic on the basis of the Defense Forces Service Act and with the specifications deriving from the present mandatory levels of proficiency in Estonian language.

(24.04.2001 entered into force 01.05.2001 – RT I 2001, 41, 229)

II. BASIC LEVEL OF LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY

2. Language proficiency at least at the basic level is required from public servants, employees of state agencies administered by government agencies and of local government agencies, and from employees of legal persons in public law and agencies thereof whose duties of service or employment are of specific nature involving routine instances of language use and whose written assignments involve only standard documents.
3. Language proficiency at least at the basic level is required from:
1. support staff (except office workers);
2. (Repealed – 24.04.2001 entered into force 01.05.2001 – RT I 2001, 41, 229)
3. guard forces engaged in perimeter control.

(12.08.2003 entered into force 29.08.2003 – RT I 2003, 58, 392)

III. INTERMEDIATE LEVEL OF LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY

4. Language proficiency at least at the intermediate level is required from public servants, employees of state agencies administered by government agencies and of local government agencies, and from employees of legal persons in public law and agencies thereof whose duties of service or employment are varied and may be related to records management, management of a subordinate unit and co-operation and the nature of whose written work can be defined.
5. Language proficiency at least at the intermediate level is required from the following public servants who are:
1. junior officials (except outdoors guards, legal assistants, executive secretaries and clerks of court sessions);

   (12.08.2003 entered into force 29.08.2003 – RT I 2003, 58, 392)

2. office workers.
6. Language proficiency at least at the intermediate level is required from the following employees of state agencies administered by government agencies and of local government agencies, and from employees of legal persons in public law and agencies thereof who are:
1. heads or deputy heads of subordinate units, departments or other structural units;
2. specialists who hold positions requiring higher education;
3. teachers (except teachers of the Estonian language and of subjects taught in Estonian);
4. medical assistants and nurses.
7. Language proficiency at least at the intermediate level is required from junior specialists and specialists among Border Guard officials.

(24.04.2001 entered into force 01.05.2001 – RT I 2001, 41, 229)

IV. ADVANCED LEVEL OF LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY

8. Language proficiency at the advanced level is required from public servants and employees of state agencies administered by government agencies and of local government agencies, and from employees of legal persons in public law and agencies thereof whose duties of service or employment are related to the management of a unit, planning and co-ordination of activities thereof, advising and preparing public reports, speeches and official written texts.
9. Language proficiency at the advanced level is required from the following public servants:
1. higher officials;
2. senior officials;
3. legal assistants, executive secretaries and clerks of court sessions.
10. Language proficiency at the advanced level is required from the following employees of state agencies administered by government agencies and of local government agencies, and employees of legal persons in public law and agencies thereof who are:
1. heads and deputy heads of agencies;
2. doctors, psychologists and pharmacists;
3. heads and deputy heads of educational institutions, teachers of the Estonian language and of subjects taught in Estonian.
11. Language proficiency at the advanced level is required from judges, notaries and, among Border Guard officials, from senior specialists, heads of divisions and departments.

    (24.04.2001 entered into force 01.05.2001 – RT I 2001, 41, 229)

12. (Repealed – 16.05.2001 entered into force 01.10.2001 – RT I 2001, 48, 269)

Approved by Government of the Republic Regulation No. 249 of August 16, 1999

EXTENT OF AND PROCEDURE FOR CONSULTATIONS PRIOR TO ESTONIAN LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY EXAMINATIONS

1. This Procedure provides the extent of and procedure for holding consultations prior to Estonian language proficiency examinations (hereinafter examination).
2. Persons who register for an Estonian language proficiency examination are entitled to participate in consultations in the form of group consultations free of charge prior to the examination (hereinafter consultation) to the extent of six hours.
3. The objective of such consultations is to provide persons registered for an examination with information concerning the requirements and particulars of the examination and to advise the persons in their choice of the level of examination.
4. The preparation of examination materials, the financing of the consultations and methodological instruction of the consultants shall be organized by the National Examination and Qualification Center.
5. Conducting the consultations shall be financed in accordance with the number of persons consulted and the cost of the consultations.
6. Consultations are held by philologists with higher education who have undergone training organized by the National Examination and Qualification Center.
7. The size of a consultation group shall be ten to fifteen persons.

Approved by Government of the Republic Regulation No. 249 of August 16, 1999

(See RT I 2001, 66, 656)

Source: Mercator, Bulletin No. 60, IV Quarter 2004, http://www.ciemen.org/mercator/index-gb.htm

¹ Source: Estonian Legal Language Center, www.legaltext.ee

² RT = Riigi Teataja = State Gazette

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