The Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Meles Alem, in a press briefing on Thursday this week (December 13) emphasized the Government was redoubling its efforts to ensure safety and wellbeing of Ethiopian citizens living in the Middle East and other African countries. He noted the Ministry had issued Ethiopian passports to over 40, 000 unregistered Ethiopian nationals who had been stateless in other countries. In addition, 2,250 Ethiopians, released from Saudi Arabian jails following successful negotiations with the Government of Saudi Arabia had also been recently repatriated. Ethiopia is, of course, both a destination and a country of origin for migrants. Migration movements in the Horn of Africa are high, as people, mainly youth, flee poverty and unemployment in search of opportunities they believe will help them improve their lives. But with growing concern over the unofficial and irregular flow of Ethiopians and the conditions people face on journeys and at their destinations, migration has become a significant issue. Illegal recruitment and other factors lead many migrant workers to take risky journeys, leading to people suffering, abuse, exploitation and even deaths with female migrants most at risk.
To tackle this challenge, Prime Minister Dr. Abiy’s government has made great strides in recent months to protect and assist Ethiopian migrants especially those stranded and detained in the Middle East as well as making every effort to facilitate legal migration. In June, following the Prime Minister’s visit to Saudi Arabia, more than a thousand Ethiopians imprisoned for minor criminal activities were pardoned. Over the last week another 1,500 Ethiopians imprisoned for minor crimes in Saudi Arabia were pardoned, and the return of 900 returnees, detained at the Saudi Yemen border was facilitated. Over the last three months more than 1,350 Ethiopians have been assisted in or near Jizan to return to their homeland safely. The Office of International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Addis Ababa has also supported the voluntary return of 408 Ethiopians, including women and children from Sana’a, where they have been stranded in dangerous conditions. The Government and people of Ethiopia greatly appreciate the efforts of the IOM and the Government of Saudi Arabia for their support and clemency. Returnees are greeted and welcomed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and provided support on arrival by the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Women, Youth and Children, and other stakeholders.
The Government is, of course, also working hard to break the chains of human traffickers responsible for recruiting illegal migrants. The Deputy Prime Minister, Dr. Demeke Mekonnen, and his office has called on all stakeholders to take the necessary measures to stop Ethiopian travellers with tourist and other visas to labour-destination countries taking up jobs illegally. This has already brought about a significant reduction in illegal labour movement to the Middle East and other regions. The Government is also taking positive steps to assist legal labour movement. In cooperation with ILO, it has developed a draft model labour agreement. This is based on a standardized employment contract in line with international instruments to provide favourable and rights-based recruitment and employment conditions for Ethiopian migrant workers in key countries in the Middle East.
The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs is the responsible body for initiating and following up implementation of these bilateral labour agreements and/or memoranda of understanding. There is an ad hoc committee in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, from the Directorates of for Legal Affairs and the Middle East, which follows up on bilateral agreements between Ethiopia and a number of Middle Eastern Countries. The role and responsibilities of labour attaches, being deployed to destination countries is being jointly worked out with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. This will certainly strengthen support and facilitation for migrants in t destination countries. Bilateral labour agreements have been signed between Ethiopia and three Middle Eastern Countries, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Jordan. A MoU is being negotiated between Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates, and with Lebanon. Drafts have been shared with Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain, and high-level delegations have opened negotiations to finalize similar agreements.
