Ethiopia's Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs has amended its directive to increase the minimum wage paid to Ethiopians traveling to the Middle East for job. The directive has increased minimum wage from  180 U.S dollars to USD 250.

Many Ethiopians travel to the Middle East for a meager salary of USD 180 to provide unskilled labor services, while Indonesian and Filipino domestic workers wage ranges from USD 450 to USD 500 with more favorable working conditions.

The Ethiopian government issued an Employment Exchange Services Proclamation in 2009 to protect the interest of its citizens working in foreign countries. However, six years after the enactment of the proclamation, the same problems persist it seeks to avoid.  As a result, Ministry enacted a renewed directive to address such problems.

The new directive has not only increased minimum wage, but it also requires employer to receive a monthly income at least USD 1,000 to ensure payment to their employee. The directive authorizes Ethiopian Consular offices in Middle Eastern countries to check the authenticity of employers and their good conduct towards their employees, according to Emebet Mulu, the Vice Director of Communication at MoLSA.

In addition, the new directive, which came into effect on March 10, 2013, prohibits women  from traveling for work to the Middle East without having completed training at vocational institutions in Ethiopia. The ministry has also made pre-dispatch trainings for Women traveling for domestic jobs in the Middle East.

Source: Capital