tööraamatude

A tööraamat, or work book, is a document historically used in Estonia and other Eastern European countries to record an individual's employment history. It typically contained details such as the employee's name, personal identification number, dates of employment with different companies, their job title, and sometimes information about their wages and social security contributions. The primary purpose of a tööraamat was to serve as an official record of an individual's work experience, which could be important for pension calculations, social benefits, and sometimes for verifying employment qualifications.

The issuance and management of tööraamatud were usually handled by employers. When an employee started a new job, the employer would record the details in their existing tööraamat. Upon termination of employment, the employer would update the document with the final dates and any relevant notes before returning it to the employee. This system aimed to create a comprehensive and continuous employment record throughout a person's working life.

In recent years, many countries, including Estonia, have transitioned from physical tööraamatud to electronic systems for managing employment data. These digital records are often integrated into national social security or tax systems. This modernization aims to improve efficiency, reduce administrative burdens, and enhance data security. While the physical tööraamat is becoming less common, its historical significance lies in its role as a tangible representation of an individual's professional journey and their contributions to the workforce over time. The concept of a centralized employment record, however, continues to be a fundamental aspect of labor administration.