Tripartite Consultation (International Labour Standards) Convention, 1976 (No. 144) - Ethiopia (Ratification: 2011)

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2024, published 113rd ILC session (2025)

Article 5(1) of the Convention. Effective tripartite consultations. The Government indicates in its brief report that in the context of a national reform, government institutions, including the Ministry of Labour and Skills (MOLS), were reorganized. It adds that the MOLS has reinstated the tripartite Labour Advisory Board (LAB) with a new composition, which shall hold regular meetings as set out in the relevant directives. The Government also states that, due to the reform processes, its report was not presented to the Board for consultations prior to submission to the Office. With regard to the re-examination of unratified governance Conventions, the Government states that it is considering holding such consultations at the next meeting of the Board. The Committee once again requests the Government to provide detailed, up-to-date information indicating the content and outcomes of the tripartite consultations held on all matters relating to international labour standards covered by Article 5(1) of the Convention, including consultations on the re-examination of unratified fundamental and governance Conventions. It also requests the Government to indicate the composition of the re-established Labour Advisory Board and the manner in which it ensures that employers and workers are represented on an equal footing within this consultative body, as required by Article 3(2) of the Convention. The Committee further requests the Government to transmit a copy of any new texts regulating the functioning of the re-established LAB. In addition, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on any developments concerning the possible ratification of the Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81) on which tripartite consultations were previously held with the social partners (the Ethiopian Employers’ Confederation (EEC), the Ethiopian Industry Employers’ Confederation (EIEC) and the Confederation of Ethiopian Trade Unions (CETU)) as well as that of the 2014 Protocol to the Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29), which had previously been submitted to the Council of Ministers, together with an explanatory note that was discussed and agreed upon with the social partners. Lastly, the Committee requests the Government to indicate the frequency of the consultations held, once the reinstated LAB is operational, and to provide copies of the relevant directives in this regard.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2020, published 109th ILC session (2021)

Article 5(1) of the Convention. Effective tripartite consultations. In its previous comments, the Committee requested the Government to provide updated detailed information on the content and outcome of the tripartite consultations held on each of the matters covered by Article 5(1) of the Convention, particularly in connection with the re-examination of unratified Conventions, including the unratified governance Conventions. The Government reports that tripartite consultations were held with the social partners (the Ethiopian Employers’ Confederation (EEC), the Ethiopian Industry Employers’ Confederation (EIEC) and the Confederation of Ethiopian Trade Unions (CETU) to examine the possibility of ratifying the Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81). The Government indicates that it is considering this governance Convention for possible ratification and reports that, to this end, in consultation with the social partners and in collaboration with the ILO, it conducted an assessment and produced a report regarding the labour inspection system in the country. The Government reports that a tripartite consultation was accordingly initiated to examine the possible ratification of Convention No. 81. In this context, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that ILO support is needed to conduct promotional awareness-raising campaign and capacity-building activities. The Government further reports that it has initiated the procedures for ratification of the 2014 Protocol to the Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29), which has been submitted to the Council of Ministers, together with an explanatory note that was discussed and agreed upon with the social partners. The Committee notes that the Government does not provide information concerning tripartite consultations held concerning other matters covered by Article 5(1) of the Convention. The Committee therefore requests the Government to provide detailed, up-to-date information indicating the content, frequency, and outcomes of the tripartite consultations held on all matters relating to international labour standards covered by Article 5(1) of the Convention, including consultations on the re examination of unratified governance Conventions, including the Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81), as well as the Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122), and the Labour Inspection (Agriculture) Convention, 1969 (No. 129) (Article 5(1)(c)) of the Convention).

In the context of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the Committee recalls the comprehensive guidance provided by international labour standards. It encourages the Government to engage in tripartite consultation and social dialogue more broadly as a solid foundation for developing and implementing effective responses to the profound socio-economic impacts of the pandemic. The Committee invites the Government to provide updated information in its next report on measures taken in this respect, in accordance with Article 4 of the Convention and Paragraphs 3 and 4 of Recommendation No. 152, including with regard to steps taken to build the capacity of the tripartite constituents in the country and strengthen mechanisms and procedures for tripartite consultation and social dialogue, as well as challenges and good practices identified.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2016, published 106th ILC session (2017)

Article 5(1) of the Convention. Effective tripartite consultations. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its brief report on the activities of the Labour Advisory Board. The Government indicates that regular tripartite consultations have been conducted in the Labour Advisory Board on issues related to labour administration. With regard to the re-examination of unratified international labour Conventions, the Government indicates that no such consultations were held during the reporting period due to the workload of the Labour Advisory Board, owing to other urgent matters falling within its mandate. The Committee requests the Government to provide updated detailed information on the content and outcome of the tripartite consultations held on each of the matters covered by Article 5(1) of the Convention. In this regard, please provide information on the tripartite consultations held concerning the re-examination of unratified Conventions, including the unratified governance Conventions (namely the Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81), the Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122), and the Labour Inspection (Agriculture) Convention, 1969 (No. 129)).

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2014, published 104th ILC session (2015)

Articles 2 and 5 of the Convention. Effective tripartite consultations. The Committee notes the Government’s first report. The Committee notes that the Labour Advisory Board, established in accordance with section 170(2) of the Labour Proclamation No. 377/2003, holds regular meetings on issues related to employment, labour inspection and other labour administration matters. It also notes that the Labour Advisory Board has a tripartite structure consisting of fifteen members with equal representation from government, employers and workers. The Government indicates that the duties and responsibilities of the Board include, among others, administering conditions required for the better application of ratified ILO Conventions and guiding the ratification of relevant Conventions applicable to national circumstances. The Committee invites the Government to provide information on the content and outcome of the consultations held on the matters concerning international labour standards covered by Article 5(1) of the Convention, including consultations on the re-examination of unratified governance Conventions (namely the Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81), the Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122), and the Labour Inspection (Agriculture) Convention, 1969 (No. 129).