Mr Alexio Musindo is the Country Director of the ILO Country Office for Ethiopia, Djibouti, Sudan, South Sudan and Somalia and Special Representative to AU and ECA since 2019. His experience spans over 17 years in the ILO as Country Director in different regions in the continent.

With this edition of the “ILO in the Horn” newsletter, we have discussed with the Country Director on major successes and challenges of the country office in the year 2022 with exclusive focus on Ethiopia. In the coming editions of the “ILO in the Horn” newsletters, we will cover the remaining countries under the office. Mr Alexio Musindo is the Country Director of the ILO Country Office for Ethiopia, Djibouti, Sudan, South Sudan and Somalia and Special Representative to AU and ECA since 2019. His experience spans over 17 years in the ILO as Country Director in different regions in the continent.

With this edition of the “ILO in the Horn” newsletter, we have discussed with the Country Director on major successes and challenges of the country office in the year 2022 with exclusive focus on Ethiopia. In the coming editions of the “ILO in the Horn” newsletters, we will cover the remaining countries under the office. 


1. The issue of job creation is a priority for the government, as evidenced by the series of employment policy reforms and plans Home-Grown, MOLS 10-year strategic plan, National Action Plan etc. Why do you think job creation remains an intractable challenge, especially here in Ethiopia?

Mr Alexio - In the last two decades, Ethiopia has been one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. This process was in a right track to create a strong and resilient economy characterised by broad-based growth, albeit with a declining trend in the performance of the economy in recent years which has created visible forms of macroeconomic challenges, compounded by Covid-19 and conflicts in various parts of the country. 

The speculated labour market is expected to change from primarily agricultural-based to a mixed agriculture-industrial economy in the changing demands of the labour market for medium and high-skilled workers that can be used as a springboard for employment creation and Inclusive development for all, as stipulated in the SDGs. If the recently established industrial parks are used as a catalyst to collectively utilise and draw the international/regional resources and opportunities through inclusive employment opportunities, it can bear fruits for the country at large.

The country’s labour market has the potential to absorb larger numbers of low- and medium-skilled labour, as well as an apparent growing demand for high-skilled labour.

The country’s labour market can be significantly transformed with increased investment in human capital pooling internal and external resources for mutual benefits, aligning the demand with the level of skill deemed necessary, and a sector with high returns and effects.
This line of argument is supported with evidence, indicating a shift in the types of workers in demand for the emergent post-agrarian Ethiopian economy on one hand, and another evidence linked emerging demand for low-skilled, medium-skilled and high-skilled workers, but increasing demand and attendant undersupply for medium- and high-skilled workers across the three sectors surveyed, construction, agriculture and manufacturing which demands proper synergy with education and training for all.

"If the recently established industrial parks are used as a catalyst to collectively utilise and draw the international/regional resources and opportunities through inclusive employment opportunities, it can bear fruits for the country at large."."

Mr Alexio

 2. The world of work has been profoundly affected by the global virus pandemic. In addition to the threat to public health, the economic and social disruption threatens the long-term livelihoods and wellbeing of millions. This took an unprecedented toll in Ethiopia, where millions of workers are working on global supply chains that have been disrupted the slowing down of demands for goods. What has been the role of the ILO in supporting the government efforts to curb the effect of the pandemic on the economy and labour market?

Mr Alexio - The ILO CO-Addis provides support to the Ministry of Labour and Skills in its efforts towards awareness raising on COVID-19 focusing on the world of work in the country, particularly for target groups, in geographic areas where CO-Addis has been implementing activities.

The ILO SIRAYE provided a wage subsidy for a total of fourteen thousand two hundred eighty-six (14,286) workers from forty six (46) eligible domestic textile and garment factories.

Likewise, as part of the COVID-19 response, FAIRWAY programme provided cash transfer support to 806 Ethiopian migrant returnee workers (63% women) in order to enable them to meet their immediate and basic needs.

Accordingly, 500 returnee migrant workers (91% women) provided with vocational skills training on seven different occupations and another 500 returnees (88% women) received business/entrepreneurship skills training helping them to make self-employed. The returnees who obtained business skills training also received cash grant equivalent of US$ 200 per person and are linked with commercial bank to access loan to start or expand their personal business/enterprise.

Additionally, as part of the UNCT in Ethiopia, the CO has been providing technical inputs to the National COVID-19 multi-sector emergency response by participating in Task Forces aligned with ongoing CO-Addis interventions in the country.


3. The current trend in global labour market is affected by global migration trends and driving forces, including south-south movements. Forced displacement has wide socio-economic consequences on host governments and has recently triggered intense global debates on how to develop appropriate and sustainable policy responses to these challenges. What has been the ILO approach to labour and forced migration?

Mr Alexio - Ethiopia being the second most populated country of the continent, and the Horn of Africa being one of the largest source and destination of labour migration, the ILO’s work in the region has been instrumental in promoting decent jobs for citizens, forcedly displaced people, and host communities.

The ILO’s interest on international labour migration stems from its mandate on labour issues and workers protection. From its inception in 1919, the ILO expressed the need to protect migrant workers, as clearly stipulated in its Constitution as one of the objectives of the Organization, “the protection of the interests of workers when employed in countries other than their own.”

The ILO focus on right based approach to international labour migration, while ensuring the promotion of economic growth and employment, including through labour mobility, and the protection of migrant workers. It is one of the priorities for the office, accordingly, accordingly we have a number of projects supporting member states. For example, under the UK FCDO funded Better regional migration management programme we have:

• Strengthened capacity of Ethiopian TVT institutions to provide quality skills training, including English language training for potential and returned migrants.
• More than 1,300 Ethiopian potential and returned migrants integrated into the labour market, through wage and self-employment.
• Enhanced access to justice for Ethiopian migrants in Kuwait through supporting union to union agreement between Ethiopia and Kuwait for the protection of migrant workers.
• Increased employment opportunities for Ethiopian migrant workers in Kuwait by supporting the signing of Kuwait Union of Domestic Labour Office and private employment agencies of Ethiopia agreement.
• Under the campaign “There is another way”, the ILO raised awareness on promoting safe, regular, and orderly labour migration and initiated attitudinal change of returnees in order for them to be able to work and improve their lives, based on the skills they have acquired abroad.

Moreover, the Country Office have supported the Ministry of Labour and Skills in Ethiopia in upgrading, updating, and aligning the Ethiopian Migrant Data Management System (EMDMS) to the revised Ethiopian Overseas Employment amendment proclamation 1246/2021.

FAIRWAY has supported for the reintegration of 1,806 Ethiopian returnee migrant workers (majority of them women) through different interventions who mainly lost their jobs due to COVID-19 and returned back. Likewise, building capacity of concerned government actors for protection of rights and promotion of welfare is also one of the priorities of FAIRWAY.

Furthermore, FAIRWAY is also collaborating with Confederation of Ethiopian Trade Unions (CETU) and Mulu Tesfa Domestic Workers Association to build their capacity to organize and protect rights of migrant workers and returnees, particularly the women domestic workers who dominates regular international labour migration pathways. This initiative is also aiming to sensitize and aware potential migrant workers about the regular pathways of labour migration.



4. Ethiopia, which plans to become a hub for light manufacturing industries, has opened industrial parks etc…and made strides to attract low-end manufacturing businesses and leading global apparel and textile companies seeking new factory locations from the US, China, India, Sri Lanka. How does ILO collaborate with government and other development actors to ensure that investments in the country both foreign and local are generating decent jobs?

Mr Alexio - The works of the ILO encompassed from conducting assessments to understand problems up to advocating policy changes for the promotion of conducive circumstances for decent jobs for people seeking it.

For instance, in alignment with the rural employment services strategy, the ILO ProAgro Project established the first Employment Services Facilitation Centre (ESFC) within the Yirgalem Integrated Agro-Industrial Park (IAIP).

Yirgalem ESFC provides various employment services for job seekers inside and outside the park. To date, 394 (140 female and 254 male) job seekers have been registered and received career services, of which 24 (16 male and 8 female) were matched in decent jobs.

he ILO through Siraye Programme is supporting garment and textile factories in close collaboration with government, social partners, and buyers to improve compliance with international labour standards/national labour law and create an enabling environment for higher productivity and better working conditions. To date around 100 unannounced assessments were conducted in more than 50 factories identifying different non-compliances concerning Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) practices, working hours, overtime compensations, gender and women specific issues.

Informed by the assessment, the ILO is providing different demand-driven capacity building programmes, advisory and coaching to assist factories to ensure decent working conditions.

In addition, ILO Siraye Programme in collaboration with other partners established workers call centre in Hawassa and Bole Lemi Industrial parks to give workers an option to submit grievances and get the necessary support.

If the case is escalated to courts, workers will get free legal aid service. The Legal Aid Centre is established near the Hawassa Industry Park through the support provided to Hawassa University towards the end of 2021 by Siraye Programme.

he ILO through Siraye Programme is supporting garment and textile factories in close collaboration with government, social partners, and buyers to improve compliance with international labour standards/national labour law and create an enabling environment for higher productivity and better working conditions. To date around 100 unannounced assessments were conducted in more than 50 factories identifying different non-compliances concerning Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) practices, working hours, overtime compensations, gender and women specific issues.

Informed by the assessment, the ILO is providing different demand-driven capacity building programmes, advisory and coaching to assist factories to ensure decent working conditions.

In addition, ILO Siraye Programme in collaboration with other partners established workers call centre in Hawassa and Bole Lemi Industrial parks to give workers an option to submit grievances and get the necessary support.

If the case is escalated to courts, workers will get free legal aid service. The Legal Aid Centre is established near the Hawassa Industry Park through the support provided to Hawassa University towards the end of 2021 by Siraye Programme. 

Workers who are unable to pay for private attorney service, get free consulting and legal service by the centre. Towards the end of September, the centre is dealing with 115 cases with estimated value of USD 50,000. Private attorney firms charge averagely between 15,000 and 20,000 Ethiopian Birr for a single case. This is unaffordable for most of workers. So, the monetary value and impact of the free service is beyond the estimation. As a result of satisfactory service provided by the legal aid centre, its clients are increasing over time.

The legal aid center is also providing practical experience to law students. The trained para-legals (4th and 5th Year law students) serving at the legal aid centre stated that they got a chance for practical exercise and deal with real cases.

One of the mandates of the ILO is to promote decent work by supporting sustainable enterprises. Sustainable enterprises are generators of employment and promoters of innovation and decent work. To improve factory productivity and competitiveness, the productivity component (Sustaining Competitive and Responsible Enterprises – SCORE) of Siraye programme started with eight trainers in 2019. The number has increased to 24 in 2020, 37 in 2021 and 83 in 2022. Most of the trainers (78%) are from partner institutions. This is important because building institutional capacity of institutions is one of the strategies to sustain SCORE initiative in Ethiopia.


5. What policy framework does the ILO use to reach its objectives in the Horn of Africa? What is the role of the ILO tripartite partners in engaging in promoting Decent Work?


Mr Alexio - The ILO operates based on its unique principle of tripartism: dialogue and cooperation between governments, employers, and workers - in the formulation of standards and policies. This is depicted in the ILO's Tripartite Declaration of Principles.

Through the BRMM programme the ILO in partnership with CETU have launched a campaign for the ratification of C97, C143, C189 & C190. Very recently, the Confederation of Ethiopian Trade Unions (CETU) organized orientation session to different stakeholders and ministers to lobby for the ratification of these important conventions.

We are also closely working with the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs and Ethiopian legislators to makes sure C190 is ratified in 2023 as Ethiopia is set to mark 100 years since joining the ILO.

Our partners are also active in facilitating decent working conditions for workers. The establishment of a Tripartite level grievance handling committee at Ethiopia’s Industrial Parks initiate by ILO Siraye Programme is a good example for this.