Refugees’ Right to Work in Ethiopia: Prospects and Challenges
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2020-07
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Addis Ababa Unversity
Abstract
Ethiopia’s’ Refugee Proclamation No. 1110/2019, provides that refugees will have the right to
engage in gainful employment on an equal basis with the most favored foreign nationals in
Ethiopia. Accordingly, and in line with international refugee law, the designation of ‘the most
favored foreigners’ in the Ethiopian legal system is the underlying factor that determines the
scope of refugee’s right to work in Ethiopia. Foreigners of Ethiopian Origin and Djiboutian
nationals are the two most favored foreign nationals in Ethiopia regarding access to
employment. It is argued that refugee’s right to engage in wage-earning employment should not
extend to the privileges enjoyed by Foreigners of Ethiopian Origin due to strong legal and policy
objectives that predicated the special treatment of Foreigners of Ethiopian Origin in the
Ethiopian legal system as well as different practical considerations. Instead, refugees should be
placed on par with ordinary foreigners concerning their right to engage in wage-earning
employment. However, this will be very restrictive and only few high skilled refugees will have
access to the job market.
In relation to engagement in self-employment and liberal professions, refugees have an
indisputable right to benefit from the preferential treatment enjoyed by Djiboutian nationals that
emanates from Most Favored Nations relationships that exist between Ethiopia and Djibouti.
This, with few exceptions, will enable refugees to engage in investment activities that are
exclusively reserved for Ethiopian investors. The most favorable opening that will grant greater
employment opportunities for numerous refugees is the Joint Projects arrangement. Joint
Projects are development projects designed with the support of international donors to
unrestricted job opportunities for refugees and host communities.