Strengthening regional implementation of Ethiopia’s new overseas employment law through four sensitisation workshops that equipped 201 stakeholders with the knowledge and action plans needed to apply the Proclamation consistently, promote fair recruitment and strengthen protection for Ethiopian migrant workers.
From 25 June to 10 July 2026, the International Labour Organization (ILO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Skills (MoLS) and regional Bureaus of Labour and Skills, held four sensitization workshops on Ethiopia's Overseas Employment Proclamation No. 1389/2025 and Directive No. 1126/2026. Conducted under the EU-funded project "Strengthening Inter-Regional Cooperation for Safe, Regular, and Orderly Labour Migration in Ethiopia," the workshops took place in Bishoftu, Bahir Dar, and Hawassa. A total of 201 participants (135 male, 66 female) attended, representing federal ministries, regional bureaus from Amhara, Oromia, Tigray, and Central Ethiopia, private employment agencies, workers' and employers' organizations, TVET institutions, migrant and returnee associations, civil society, and the media.
Labour migration is a vital livelihood strategy for many Ethiopians, supporting household incomes, job creation, and foreign exchange earnings. However, migrant workers still face exploitation, abuse, and unsafe migration routes. Institutions responsible for overseas employment governance often struggle with weak coordination and limited awareness of the updated legal framework, especially at regional and sub-regional levels. Proclamation No. 1389/2025, which replaces Proclamation No. 923/2016, introduces key reforms: a structured licensing and classification system for private employment agencies, the establishment of the Overseas Employment Board, expanded migration opportunities based on practical experience and competency-based qualifications, enhanced worker protection throughout the migration cycle, fair recruitment practices aligned with ILO Convention No. 181, and a centralized digital labour migration governance system (E-LMIS).
Ethiopia is committed to creating decent jobs at home while ensuring that those who work abroad migrate safely and regularly. We have expanded overseas employment opportunities, digitalised services, strengthened the legal framework and reduced contract approval to five minutes. However, illegal brokers, unfair recruitment and migrant worker protection remain serious concerns. The new Proclamation clarifies institutional responsibilities and strengthens coordinated action to protect Ethiopian migrant workers.
H.E. Ato Daniel Teressa Shone, State Minister for Labour Affairs, Ministry of Labour and Skills
Participants engaged in interactive presentations, case studies, and group discussions to review the key provisions of the Proclamation and Directive, the transition from the previous legal framework, institutional roles and responsibilities, and procedures for licensing, inspection, and enforcement. Each workshop concluded with stakeholder groups developing time-bound action plans, including three-month priority steps, to disseminate and implement the legal framework at federal, regional, zonal, and woreda levels.
These workshops represent the initial phase of a long-term institutional capacity-building programme. The ILO and MoLS will jointly review action plans after three months, and participants will be supported to extend sensitization efforts to lower administrative levels.
The Participants committed to disseminating the knowledge they gained from the workshop across institutions and at all administrative levels to support consistent implementation of the Proclamation and Directive and reduce misinformation driving irregular migration.
They welcomed the Ministry's development of Standard Operating Procedures and agreed these are essential for uniform application of the new legal framework. Participants reaffirmed their commitment to promoting regular migration pathways, discouraging irregular migration, and upholding fair recruitment practices. They agreed on strengthening oversight of Private Employment Agencies, enforcing action against illegal brokers and traffickers, and improving support mechanisms for migrant workers throughout the migration cycle. They further committed to advocating for improved pre-departure orientation, occupational training, and Recognition of Prior Learning, with training aligned to international labour market demands to enhance the employability and preparedness of Ethiopian migrant workers.ILO
