ILO Applauds Ethiopia's Labour Protection for Workers Abroad

Addis Ababa, August 27, 2025 (ENA) - The International Labour Organization (ILO) commended Ethiopia for implementing legal instruments to ensure labor protection for workers employed in foreign countries and its continued effort for partnership.

In an exclusive interview with ENA, Khumbula Ndaba, the ILO Country Director for Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan, and South Sudan, highlighted recent government initiatives to protect its citizens.

He specifically praised the launch of the LeMengede mobile application, a joint project developed by the Ministry of Labor and Skills and the ILO.

The LeMengede app provides essential information to citizens, including details on destination countries, their rights and responsibilities as workers, and contact information for Ethiopian embassies and consular offices abroad.

According to Ndaba, this technology-driven tool will help the government better manage labor migration and demonstrate its commitment to prioritizing the safety and rights of its citizens.

He also emphasized the crucial role of bilateral labor agreements between Ethiopia and destination countries.

These agreements, he explained, regulate employment conditions and safeguard the rights of Ethiopian workers.

He cited the agreement made with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as a prime example, which ensures that Ethiopian nationals can work legally in the Emirates with their rights protected.

Ethiopia has signed similar agreements with other countries, especially in the Arab world, to provide legal employment opportunities and ensure the welfare of its migrant workers.

Ndaba noted that these agreements are vital for setting clear standards, such as prohibiting the abuse of workers or the confiscation of their passports.

"These agreements empower the Government of Ethiopia to intervene whenever necessary, protect the rights of its citizens, and monitor their safety abroad," Ndaba stated.

He also underscored the importance of complementary measures like pre-departure training to help prepare Ethiopian workers for overseas employment and ensure a safer migration process.