Tallinn Asks Language Board to Assess Estonian-Language Customer Service in City Businesses

Tallinn Deputy Mayor Kristjan Järvan (Isamaa) has written to Language Board Director Ilmar Tomus requesting an assessment of Estonian-language customer service in Tallinn's shops, service businesses, and food establishments.

Tallinn Deputy Mayor Kristjan Järvan (Isamaa) submitted a request to Language Board Director Ilmar Tomus asking the agency to assess the extent to which customer service in Estonian is available in Tallinn's shops, service businesses, and food establishments.

The request points to a concerning situation in Tallinn's service sector, where Estonian-language service is not accessible to customers everywhere. The Language Board has the authority to monitor compliance with the language law and, if necessary, implement supervisory measures.

Ensuring Estonian-language service is important both from a language policy perspective and for social integration. Service businesses in Tallinn, as the capital, are obligated to provide customers with service in Estonian, which is the official language of the Republic of Estonia.