Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2007, published 97th ILC session (2008)

Employment Service Convention, 1948 (No. 88) - Ethiopia (Ratification: 1963)

The Committee takes note of the information provided in the Government’s report, received in October 2006, in reply to its 1994 direct request which was reiterated in 1998.

1. Contribution of the employment service to employment promotion. The Government reports that, for the period 2001–02, 23,874 persons were registered jobseekers, there were 1,613 registered vacancies and, accordingly, 1,157 jobseekers secured placements. The Committee notes that the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs is the national authority responsible for matters related to employment service. The Government indicates that the functions of the employment offices are to assist persons to obtain employment; to assist employers in recruiting social workers; to determine the manner in which Ethiopian nationals are employed outside of Ethiopia; to cooperate with concerned offices and organizations in the preparation of training programmes; to undertake studies concerning the employment and unemployment rates in the country; and to collaborate with the concerned offices conducting studies related to the manner of improving vocational training so as to enable proper implementation of the national employment policy. The Committee notes with interest the information provided and welcomes continuing to receive information on activities performed by the public employment service to ensure effective recruitment and placement of workers, and statistics on the outcome of such activities. In addition, having regard to the essential duty of the employment service to achieve the best possible organization of the employment market and its revision to meet the new requirements of the economy and the working population, the Committee requests the Government to include in its next report particulars of the activities carried out by the employment services and the effects of the activities on its poverty reduction strategy.

2. Article 3 of the Convention. Development of employment offices throughout the territory. The Committee notes that two public employment service offices have been developed in areas where increased economic activity was identified. Accordingly, one local employment office was established in Addis Ababa, and a provincial employment office was established in Dire Dawa for the Teklay Guezat of Harar. The Central Employment Office however continues to offer services to all other areas in Ethiopia. The Government reports that the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs is vested with the authority to establish labour exchange offices and, to determine their administrative jurisdiction, supervise their functions, issue directives and, if necessary, take a step-wise approach to establish further employment offices. The Committee notes that more than 40 employment service offices have been established in the regions. The Committee welcomes continuing to receive information on the activities of the network of employment offices.

3. Articles 4 and 5. Participation of social partners. The Committee notes that an Advisory Board was established to study and examine matters relating to the employment service, including working conditions, the safety and health of workers, the labour law in general and to give advisory opinions to the Minister in this regard. The Advisory Board is comprised of 15 members, five from each social partner. The Minister of Labour and Social Affairs is the Chairman of the Committee, while the position of secretary is rotated on an annual basis between the Employer Federation and the trade unions. The Government reports that three technical committees are due to be established under the Advisory Board to address employment, industrial relations and occupational safety and health respectively. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the activities of the Advisory Board in the organization and operation of the employment service and in the development of employment service policy.

4. Article 11. Cooperation with private employment agencies. The Committee observes that a proclamation on private employment agencies was promulgated which makes clear the distinct functions of private employment agencies. The Government considers that the issuance of this proclamation will further strengthen cooperation between public employment services and private employment agencies. The Committee invites the Government to provide detailed information on the operation of private employment agencies in its report due in 2008 on the Private Employment Agencies Convention, 1997 (No. 181). In the context of Convention No. 88, the Committee requests that the Government provide information, including practical examples, on the measures taken to secure effective cooperation between the public employment service and private employment agencies.