Hariiroo hojii fi sirna hiikkaa waldhabbii falmii hojii keessatti rakkoolee mul’atan

Abstract

Under the 1995 Constitution, Ethiopia has tried to guarantee fundamental rights of workers provided under ILO Conventions. Accordingly, it has issued the labour proclamation and other subsidiary laws to provide the basic principles of rights and obligations which govern the worker employer relations, as well as to form the relevant institutions. However, this paper contends that there are critical legal and institutional gaps in order to realize the rights of workers protected under the Constituion and ILO Conventions. In Oromia region, where this study is conducted, workers have little or no bargaining power to deal with their wages and other work conditions, which led to gross labour exploitation. Moreover, the principle of equal pay for equal work is overlooked. Absence off it for purpose institution and uniform guidelines regarding employees’ recruitment and hiring process has engendered incidents ofemploymen tdiscrimination. Generally, there is no industry based employment policy or systems to ensuree quality inemployment and rectify issues of discrimination at workplace. Employment contracts mostly contradict the principles provided in the labour law. Dispute settling organs do not correctly construe the labour laws particularly while: determining employment relations to which labour law is applicable; dealing with the burden of proof, assessing the legitimacy of termination of employment contract and determining disablement compensation. Government shall be committed to fill the legal gaps including by signing important ILO Conventions like the minimum wage convention. It should also strengthen and empower institutions which take part in improving employment relations. Continuous training is important for judges, labour relations board members, labour inspectors, conciliators and trade union members to enable them properly execute employment legislations.