As of 01.07.2009, a claim for annual holiday expires within one year as of the end of the calendar year for which the holiday is calculated (subsection 68 (6) of the Employment Contracts Act).
For example, a holiday worked for in 2011 but not used could have been used until the end of 2012 because the said holiday expired at 00:00 on 01.01.2013.
A holiday worked for in 2012, but not used, may be used until the end of 2013 because the said holiday expires at 00:00 on 01.01.2014.
A holiday worked for in 2013, but not used, may be used until the end of 2014 because the said holiday expires at 00:00 on 01.01.2015.
A holiday worked for in 2014, but not used, may be used until the end of 2015 because the said holiday expires at 00:00 on 01.01.2016.
A holiday worked for in 2015, but not used, may be used until the end of 2016 because the said holiday expires at 00:00 on 01.01.2017.
The idea behind changing the expiration provision is to motivate employees to take an annual holiday every year, to prevent overwork and to offer employees a chance to distance themselves from the routine of work on a regular basis every year. Not taking a holiday and accumulating it does not serve the purpose of a holiday.
Expiry is suspended for the period of time when the employee is on pregnancy and maternity leave, adoptive parent leave and child care leave, as well as when the employee is undertaking military service or alternative service.
| Time when right of claim for holiday arises | Expiry of holiday |
| until 31.12.2001 | expired on 01.07.2013 |
| 01.01.2002-30.06.2005 | expired |
| 01.07.2005-30.06.2009 | expired on 01.07.2013 |
| 01.07.2009-31.12.2009 | expired |
| 01.01.2010-31.12.2010 | expired |
| 01.01.2011-31.12.2011 | expired on 01.01.2013 |
| 01.01.2012-31.12.2012 | expired on 01.01.2014 |
| 01.01.2013-31.12.2013 | expired on 01.01.2015 |
| 01.01.2014-31.12.2014 | expired on 01.01.2016 |
| 01.01.2015-31.12.2015 | 01.01.2017 |
| 01.01.2016-31.12.2016 | 01.01.2018 |
An employer draws up a holiday schedule for each calendar year and communicates it to the employee within the first quarter of the calendar year (subsection 69 (2) of the Employment Contracts Act).
Order the 2016 holiday schedule (in Estonian) HERE…
See also the same table in Estonian HERE and in Russian HERE.
