Confusing or unfair wage payment

Is your actual salary several times lower than promised? Does your wage seem unfair? Is your employer delaying your salary payments?

If you come to work in Estonia from outside the European Union (e.g., with a visa, visa-free stay, or residence permit) and sign an employment contract directly with an Estonian employer, and your purpose for staying here is work (which must be registered with the Police and Border Guard Board beforehand), then your salary must not be lower than the Estonian average gross wage. This means that you are entitled to a gross salary of €2011 per month (as of Q1 2025). This amount does not include overtime pay, personal protective equipment, or work tools – the employer must cover those costs separately!

Your salary must be paid by a fixed payday, which should be set on a specific calendar day (e.g., the 5th of each month). According to the law, wages must be transferred to a bank account specified by the employee, but by mutual agreement, it can also be paid in cash. In both cases, you have the right to request a payslip showing how your wage was calculated. If you’ve opened a bank account and have a bank card in Estonia, never give your personal card to anyone else, as it can be misused. An employer cannot demand access to your personal means of payment and never share your PIN code!

You can check the minimum wage in Estonia here: https://www.emta.ee/eraklient/maksud-ja-tasumine/tulu-deklareerimine/maksumaarad
You can view the average gross monthly salary here: https://stat.ee/et/avasta-statistikat/valdkonnad/tooelu/palk-ja-toojoukulu