The Professions Act, passed by the Parliament on 22 May 2008, came into force as of 1 September 2008. Estonian Association of Professional Engineers is still of the opinion that the requirements of article 27 of the Education Act ought to be met first, thereby providing a base system for the implementation of the Professions Act. Explanation Unlike most of the other former Soviet republics, Estonia did not ratify the ILO convention C142 concerning Vocational Guidance and Vocational Training in the Development of Human Resources in 1993-94. According to this convention, vocational training covers all qualifications and levels of education. Instead, a Governmental Regulation passed in 1994 on the initiative of the Ministry of Education stopped the awarding of vocational qualifications to graduates of vocational schools and higher education establishments. This created a situation in the Estonian labour market whereby people who have graduated from a vocational school or a higher education establishment after 1994 have no opportunity of documenting their vocational skills in local or foreign labour markets with the diploma. There is also no possibility of segmenting the home labour market by vocations and qualifications for research purposes as well as harmonising them through additional management (publicly funded study places and vocational guidance) with the changing needs of the labour market, as is done everywhere in Europe. Estonian Association of Professional Engineers wished to avoid a further intensification of the situation through the new Professions Act. However, as you may see from the documents attached, this attempt was not successful.   Mr. Allar Jõks Communication to the Chancellor of Justice of the Republic of Estonia Final response from the Chancellor of Justice Communication to the Goverment of the Republic of Estonia and to the Parliament Answer from the Cultural Affairs Committee Letter to the President of the Republic of Estonia Answer from the President of the Republic of Estonia