More than 100 foreign employment agencies have applied for business licenses, yet they have voiced complaints about not receiving qualification licenses, with reasons for the delay remaining unclear.
Ethiopia has entered into agreements with various foreign governments to safeguard the rights and obligations of its citizens working abroad. Despite this, numerous organizations have lodged grievances with the authorities, alleging repeated attempts to obtain qualifications through the Ministry of Labor and Skills (MoLS) for legal licensing to operate as foreign employment and employer liaison agencies.
According to the complainants, applicants were required to fulfill the criteria outlined in the Act, which mandated obtaining a license for overseas employment and engaging with employers. Despite persistent requests over the past three months, the government has not provided a satisfactory response to address their concerns.
Foreign nationals granted work permits in authorized fields and organizations necessitated the establishment of a stringent monitoring system under the Minister’s jurisdiction. However, agencies claim to be facilitating illegal migration to foreign countries, including Addis Ababa, bypassing the regulatory process.
Although the trade and licensing of foreign employment and labor liaison agencies were officially prohibited since September, agencies holding prior permits claim to have met all qualification criteria outlined by the ministry. These criteria include possessing a lease agreement for a 40 square meter office space and a starting capital of 1 million ETB. Additionally, any employer must secure a new work permit for foreign nationals employed under the Minister’s authority.
While applicants have undergone the necessary procedures to operate within the sector, they have incurred substantial losses due to delays in qualification certification. Efforts to contact Tekle tesfu, head of the licensing desk at the ministry overseeing foreign employment agencies, have been unsuccessful, despite tesfu being directly involved in addressing the issue.
