The Ethiopian government has drafted a new labor agreement to protect the rights of Ethiopians working in the United Arab Emirates as domestic workers.
The agreement includes minimum wage, mandatory insurance as well as ensuring the protection of elements of worker’s rights and is to be handed to the UAE embassy in Addis Ababa according to sources.
The agreement if implemented could end the ban placed on Ethiopian traveling to the UAE for work.
The UAE embassy is aware of the agreement and is waiting to receive after the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is done with it said Dr. Yousif Eisa Hassan Alsabri, Ambassador of the emirates in Ethiopia.It is expected that the UAE will sign and ratify the agreement in some weeks after receiving it although he did not specify an exact time frame.
The Ethiopian consulate in Dubai requested that the UAE halt the issue of visa to Ethiopian citizens travelling as domestic workers in August after receiving multiple reports of abuse. The agreement is intended to prevent physical and other abuse perpetrated against Ethiopian nationals according to Mesganu Arga Moach, Ethiopian consul general in Dubai.
It is important that Ethiopian workers are assured that their rights are protected, that they receive appropriate compensation and insurance benefits and the rates specified in the agreement are based on similar agreements established by other countries he noted.
Source: Walta Info
