ADDIS ABABA- The ongoing preparatory task for overseas employment of Ethiopians is being handled prudentially considering citizens’ overall safety matters, said the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.
Basazen Berihun Public Relations Director Representative at the Ministry told The Ethiopian Herald even though there are complaints about the implementation of the new overseas employment proclamation tardy in coming, its delay is ascribable to the care taken to close the gaps that have been witnessed on the implementation of the former proclamation.
According to Basazen, the preparatory tasks have involved several executive bodies, mainly selected technical training centers, legal institutions and overseas employment agencies.
He noted that technical trainings on different categories are being provided in a way that could enable citizens not only to be qualified and competent labor force but also to be ambassadors of their country though it will be proved in the future.
Currently 23,000 citizens have received trainings, among which 16,000 earned their certificates of competency, said Basazen. Concerning employment agencies, close to 500 have fulfilled all the criteria listed on the new proclamation and taken their license from the Ministry.
It has been reported that Ethiopia has signed bilateral agreements with three countries, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Qatar. Thus, preparatory tasks are also underway in collaboration with stakeholders to proceed on the appropriate protocol. “There is an effort to increase the number of countries that we could have overseas employment bilateral agreements with. And we will keep on putting the rights and safety of our citizens first, which is why the agreements with hosting countries and careful preparatory tasks are mandatory,” stressed Basazen.
The Ethiopian Herald, June 2/2019
BY HENOK TIBEBU
