Rights and Reality: The Working Conditions of Female Factory Workers in Selected Manufacturing Industry Sites in Ethiopia

Abstract

The past few years have seen gradual expansion of the manufacturing industry in Ethiopia, creating employment opportunity for thousands of Ethiopians. There is a growing concern that the much-touted growing employment opportunity in the manufacturing sector is not matched by decent working conditions. This paper aims to present an assessment of the working conditions of female factory workers by focusing on a study conducted at selected manufacturing industry sites. Through a qualitative method and using the standard conditions of work set by the law as points of reference, the paper examines the working conditions of female factory workers as well as their interaction with the formal legal system to vindicate their rights and advance their interests in the workplace. It has been found out female factory workers, which constitute the largest portion of the work force in the manufacturing industries, are concentrated in blue collar jobs and survive under dismal working conditions that are way below the standards set by the law. A number of factors that hinder female factory workers from demanding enforcement of their rights utilizing the law and the formal legal system were also noted. The research findings point to the need for serious of legislative and programmatic interventions to ameliorate the condition of female factory workers.

Keywords: Working Conditions; labour Rights; Working Women; Manufacturing Industry; Ethiopia; Gender.