Wage Garnishment Scheme

• Scheme for Garnishing Claims for Payment of Wages or Other Similar Income

  The wage garnishment scheme for claims for payment of wages or other similar income is a set of formulas established under § 132 of the Estonian Code of Enforcement Procedure. These formulas enable different parties involved in enforcement proceedings to easily calculate the amount of income that may be garnished.

  The wage garnishment scheme applies only in cases where the debtor’s income exceeds the amount exempt from garnishment and the bailiff has not garnished the minimum wage pursuant to § 132(1²) of the Code of Enforcement Procedure. In all other cases, the bailiff handling the enforcement case should be consulted.

  Income primarily includes the debtor’s wages or other similar remuneration, daily allowances, compensation for agreeing not to compete, remuneration received for transferring or licensing intellectual property rights, pensions, dividends, as well as goods, services, benefits in kind or other benefits with a monetary value received in connection with an employment or service relationship, membership of a management or supervisory body of a legal entity, or a long-term contractual relationship.

  The following types of income are exempt from enforcement:

  1. State family benefits.
  2. Social benefits for persons with disabilities.
  3. Social assistance benefits within the meaning of the Social Welfare Act.
  4. Scholarships, travel and accommodation allowances, and start-up support paid through the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund.
  5. Compensation paid for bodily injury or damage to health, except compensation for loss of income, and compensation for non-pecuniary damage.
  6. Work ability allowance.
  7. Maintenance payments established by law.
  8. Cash benefits under the Health Insurance Act, except temporary incapacity for work benefits.
  9. State pensions to the extent prescribed by law.
  10. Release assistance paid upon release from prison.
  11. Benefits paid to persons repressed by occupation regimes under the relevant legislation concerning repressed persons.

  When income is garnished, taxes and contributions to the mandatory funded pension scheme, health insurance and unemployment insurance are excluded from the calculation of income.

  At the request of the claimant, enforcement may be directed against the income specified in points 5–7 above if enforcement against the debtor’s other assets has not resulted, or is not expected to result, in full satisfaction of the claimant’s claim, and if garnishment is fair, taking into account the nature of the claim and the amount of income. Before making a decision, the bailiff shall, where possible, hear the debtor.

  As of 1 April 2026, the minimum hourly wage is €5.67. The monthly minimum wage for full-time employment is €946.