Ethiopia needs to pass min wage law to ensure workers have decent way of living: Expert

The Ethiopian Investment Commission has revealed that it is now time for the government of Ethiopia to settle on a minimum wage among others to protect the interests of workers.

According to Abebe Abebayehu of Ethiopian Investment Commission, his outfit was currently working with the relevant ministry and other agencies in efforts to achieve that goal. He commented after the report created headlines that the garment factory workers in Ethiopia are lowest paid worldwide. He said, while speaking to the general issue of jobs and remuneration, that the government had identified loopholes it needed to fix.

"I think how low can this wage be is the question that should be asked. How can we ensure that while providing competitive labour force we are also ensuring the wellbeing of workers... and also ensuring a decent standard of living for our workers?" he said. He was speaking to a private channel, Business Safari TV during the European Union – Ethiopia Business Forum, as reported by AfricaNews.

"Currently the industrial parks alone have created around 80,000 jobs. Now, how do we make sure that these jobs are decent and provide a decent way of living for the workers? We do not believe we have addressed certain types of issues that need to be tackled towards improving the living conditions of the workers," he said.

"The salary that the report indicated does not take into account a number of other benefits that the investors provide. But still as the basic salary we need to work as a government towards setting a minimum salary that can provide the workers a decent way of living," he cited while addressing the report.

A fair and balanced response by @AbebeAbebayehu commissioner at @EthioInvestment to the 'Made in #Ethiopia: Challenges in the #Garment Industry's New Frontier' report by @NYUStern#africa #wagesandsalaries #jobs #EUETHIOPIABF2019 #nabc #businessdestination pic.twitter.com/4rW3UlJuYY

— Business Safari (@business_safari) May 22, 2019

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