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The President of the Republic issued a statement upon promulgating the Employment Contracts Act

12.01.2009

President Toomas Hendrik Ilves promulgated two laws today: the law amending the Electricity Market Act passed by the Riigikogu on 17 December 2008 and the Employment Contracts Act passed by the Riigikogu on 17 December 2008.

In connection with the promulgation of the Employment Contracts Act, the President of the Republic issued the following statement:

“I promulgated the Employment Contracts Act today. The need for a new law regulating employment relationships is apparent. At the same time, it is regrettable that several inconsistencies exist in the law’s application provisions. The most noticeable example is the provision for amending § 7, the “procedure for taking an oath of conscience”—i.e. a provision that has not been in effect for 16 years, and the amendment of which in 2009 might cause confusion.

This leaves the impression that while the draft legislation was being prepared in cooperation with several ministries, and thereafter during the proceeding conducted by the Riigikogu, the necessary concentration was not demonstrated and this does not increase respect or confidence in the drafters of the legislation.

I hope that before this law comes into force on 1 July 2009, the Riigikogu will make the relevant changes in the law or, in other words, will correct its defective work.

I think it necessary to recall that it is the assignment of the President of the Republic to decide whether laws are constitutional, and not to direct attention to mistakes that occur in laws as the result of carelessness. Unfortunately at the moment the Head of State must also fulfill this role.”

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