Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2023, published 112nd ILC session (2024)

Ethiopia

Weekly Rest (Industry) Convention, 1921 (No. 14) (Ratification: 1991)
Weekly Rest (Commerce and Offices) Convention, 1957 (No. 106) (Ratification: 1991)

Previous comments: C.14 and C.106

In order to provide a comprehensive view of the issues relating to the application of the ratified Conventions on working time, the Committee considers it appropriate to examine Conventions Nos. 14 (Weekly Rest (industry)) and 106 (Weekly Rest (commerce and office)) together.

The Committee notes the adoption of Labour Proclamation No. 1156/2019 repealing Labour Proclamation No. 377/2003.

Articles 1(1) and 2(1) of Convention No. 14 and Articles 3(1) and 6(1) of Convention No. 106. Scope of application. Further to its previous comments, the Committee takes note of the Government’s indication that a tripartite agreement was reached to include section 69(4) in the Labour Proclamation No 1156/2019, which provides that workers who cannot take a weekly rest due to their work being away from their homes can avail themselves of four working days of rest in a month. The Committee also notes that section 72(2) of the previous Labour Proclamation No. 377/2003, which provided for the power of the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs to issue directives determining special application of the provisions of the weekly rest to workers who are directly engaged in the carriage of passengers and goods, was not reproduced in the Labour Proclamation of 2019.

The Committee further notes the Government’s indication that no regulation has been issued so far to govern weekly rest applicable to commercial representatives, which continue to be excluded from the scope of application of the Labour Proclamation of 2019, pursuant to section 3(2). The Committee also notes that the Government does not provide information on the adoption of regulations governing conditions of work applicable to personal services, as envisaged in section 3(3)(c) of Labour Proclamation of 2019. The Committee therefore once again requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken to ensure that commercial representatives and workers engaged under contracts of personal services, enjoy in every period of seven days a period of rest comprising at least twenty-four consecutive hours, in accordance with Article 2(1) of Convention No. 14 and Article 6(1) of Convention No. 106.