"An earlier draft of the bill leaked to the media has created a lot of commotion. I have a request in my folder to the Data Protection Inspectorate to investigate this matter," Helme said.

The minister added that while the incomplete version of the bill does not constitute a state secret, it had been marked as for institutional use only.

"If it bears a mark 'for institutional use', it means it is meant to be used within institutions. It is not meant to be sent to the media. These leaks have been made in bad faith; however, they do not affect the government's performance," he said at the government's press conference on Thursday. .

Helme underscored that the discussion on study and labor mobility on Thursday had proved constructive. 

"No one was threatening anyone, and no one was screaming," he said.

"All ministers would like to proceed in their areas as rapidly as possible. In this matter, we are moving forward," he said. 

Helme said on Tuesday that an incomplete version of the bill geared at amending the Aliens Act has begun to be circulated in Estonia.

"It's extremely regrettable that an initial version of the draft legislation meant for institutional use has leaked to the media, as the dissemination of such incomplete materials misleads the public and prevents a sensible discussion among the partners," he said.

The incomplete version included amendments supported by EKRE, such as minimum wage for international workers and a limit to foreign students' working hours, which have not been agreed by the coalition.

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