| Overview : Labour migration from Ethiopia mainly to Arab countries dates back to the late 1980s, but, there has been a massive influx in the last 10 years. Women constitute a higher proportion of migrants as they are considerably more in demand for domestic work. According to Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MoLSA), annually about 200,000 domestic migrant workers of which 90 % are women migrate through legal routes or legal channels.
Over the past years, the outflow of Ethiopians using irregular route has been steadily increasing. As reported by different humanitarian organizations, the number of stranded migrants has now reached an alarming rate.Women and girls are particularly vulnerable to trafficking and irregular migration as they might accept any employment offer even if it entails risks. Moreover, many families put pressure on them to accept job offers in order to benefit from financial support/remittances once they are employed overseas.
UN Women so far has undertaken initiatives in promoting and protecting migrant domestic workers’ rights. Among other activities, it has conducted regional study on migrant domestic workers in order to assess the complexities of international labor migration and its impact on the region. Currently, UN Women Ethiopia Office is planning to commission an interested consultant to conduct a comprehensive study on nature, magnitude and trend of migration of domestic workers (MDWs) from Ethiopian to GCC States, Lebanon and Sudan and the operational frameworks of the sending and receiving countries in relation to migrant domestic workers.
The general objective of the study is to have comprehensive and well documented information on the nature, magnitude and trend of migration of MDWs from Ethiopia to GCC States, Lebanon and Sudan. The study will contribute towards informed policy decisions, actions and improved management of labor migrations from Ethiopia; and also serve as baseline information for effective monitoring and evaluation of migration in the country. |
