ADDIS ABABA- Ministry of Labor and Social
Affairs (MoLSA) stated that the current Labor Proclamation is on amendment to
expand the culture of workplace social dialogue to protect industry peace.
Confederation of Ethiopian Trade Unions (CETU) also said that the union involves on the amendment of the proclamation and the draft of the proclamation recognizes to set minimum wage in private sector by law through establishing National Committee.
The bill will be evaluated by Council of Ministers and House of People’s Representatives (HPR) for final approval.
Legal and International Affairs Team Leader at Peaceful Industry Relation Directorate with MoLSA, Hana Maru told The Ethiopian Herald that lack of proper enforcement of labor law, lack of awareness on labor laws
by both parties, weakness of the laws in specific areas, weakness of social dialogue system to solve work area social conflicts and only focusing on rights by denying duty by workers are the basic problems which lead for absence of industry peace and violations of workers’ rights.
Hana stated that the ministry is focusing on awareness creation for both employers and employee, amending the available proclamation to fill legal gaps and mainly gives due attention to develop workplace social dialogue mechanism in all work places.
She stated that MoLSA is also researching the reasons behind weakness of some trade unions and absence of employee’s unions in work areas to identify the problem either due to the influence of employers or lack of commitment of workers.
For her the basic gap of the existing Labor Proclamation is weak sanction when an organization violates the law. To solve the problems the amended draft bill is on its final way and sent to Council of Ministers for final suggestion and then to approve by the HPR.
According to Hana work area problems are happen by both parties. And absence of peaceful grievance provision mechanism leads the workers to show their grievances either through strike action or other illegal ways.
Public and International Relations Department Head with CETU, Measho Berihu told The Ethiopian Herald that work area problems specially in big industries and industrial parks happens by employers. He added that absence of organized workers’ unions, lack of grievance providing mechanism, violations of work area safeties by the employers and minimum wages are also the problems.
Measho also shared with Hana on the necessity but poor culture of social dialogue in work places. Developing and expanding the culture of social dialogue is mandatory parallel with proper enforcement of laws, he argued.
For proper functioning of social dialogue, it needs strong and functional workers’ unions at every level. But most of the time employers are not willing to recognize establishment of workers’ unions, he noted.
According to Measho most of the time employers knows the International and National laws on labor rights, but they are not ready to apply the laws. Hence proper enforcement of laws and strong workers’ unions are crucial.
Measho argued that government should give due attention to protect workers’ rights parallel with expanding investment and creating job opportunities by fully enforcing the laws. He also calls for fast approval of the amended proclamation.
Measho noted that 1,746 workers’ unions are available in the country working for the rights of workers and to boost productivity of companies by maintaining work place safety.
The Ethiopian Herald April 27/ 2011
BY DARGIE KAHSAY
