Ministry of Labour & Skills Commended for Efforts in Foreign Employment
Published: May 9, 2025
The Ministry of Labour and Skills has been commended for its dedicated efforts to ensure that foreign employment opportunities for Ethiopian citizens are fair, reliable, and secure. This significant recognition comes as the Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission released a comprehensive study titled “Vulnerability of Foreign Employment to Corruption and Malpractice.”
Anti-Corruption Commission Highlights Progress and Challenges
Deputy Commissioner Eshete Asfaw of the Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission commented on the study's release, stating, "The transparent process established to investigate corruption and good governance issues in institutions is creating an enabling environment for oversight work. The study released today, focusing on foreign employment, is also part of this."
Mr. Asfaw explained that the study was meticulously conducted to assess the performance of the foreign employment sector in the 2016/17 E.C. fiscal year and to identify the challenges prevalent within it. The research examined crucial areas such as awareness-raising activities, measures for corruption prevention, and the effectiveness of law enforcement efforts.
The study primarily analyzed the operating system for foreign employment and provided key recommendations to solve the identified problems. Notably, it indicated that the work being done by the Ministry of Labour and Skills to ensure foreign employment is fair, reliable, and safeguards citizens' safety is "encouraging." In particular, the "technology-based procedures implemented to eliminate previously prevalent illegal practices in the sector have brought significant progress."
Ministry's Reforms and Commitment to Fair Practices
Minister of Labour and Skills, Ms. Muferihat Kamil, affirmed the Ministry's ongoing commitment to improving its services. She stated that "many reforms have been carried out to modernize the institution's service delivery." Ms. Kamil mentioned, for example, "addressing bottlenecks in skill development, job creation, and the technical and vocational sectors, as well as expanding accessibility."
Ms. Kamil also noted that the activities undertaken to "legalize, validate, and ensure fairness in foreign employment are encouraging." She emphasized the critical role of modern solutions, stating, "implementing technological procedures is crucial for ridding the sector of corruption and ensuring fairness."
However, the Minister acknowledged a persistent issue: "illegal brokers still hinder the process and cause problems for citizens." In this light, she believes the "in-depth study conducted by the Commission will greatly help prevent, control, and ensure accountability for these illegal practices." The Ministry is also expected to strengthen its coordination with stakeholders to implement legal procedures effectively, complementing its ongoing activities.
Worker Well-being and Future Transparency
During a discussion following the study's release, an Ethiobirtaes reporter questioned Minister Muferihat about the well-being of Ethiopian workers sent abroad, particularly to Middle Eastern countries. The Minister responded that "most are in the positions for which they applied and are being paid according to their signed contracts."
Looking ahead, information received from the Commission indicates that it will subsequently make public the preliminary studies it has conducted on various other institutions, signaling a broader commitment to transparency and accountability across different sectors.