Are We Doing Enough to Protect Workers’ Rights in Ethiopia’s Supply Chain?

FES Ethiopia, together with the Confederation of Ethiopian Trade Unions (CETU) Bahirdar Branch, hosted a workshop focused on the importance of Supply Chain Due Diligence and its role in advancing Business and Human Rights (BHR) in Ethiopia. The workshop sought to deepen participants’ understanding of due diligence, the German Supply Chain Act, and the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (EU CS3D), while examining their relevance in the Ethiopian context. A central theme was the role of trade unions in protecting labor rights and ensuring meaningful engagement in shaping Ethiopia's policies on BHR.

As Ethiopia's businesses continue to expand and integrate into global supply chains, the need for robust human rights protections becomes more urgent. The workshop highlighted that comprehensive due diligence is essential to ensuring human rights are respected throughout production processes. Without effective oversight, companies risk contributing to violations such as poor working conditions, child labor, and environmental harm. It was clear that Ethiopia must strengthen its efforts to create a fair, ethical business environment by aligning with international standards.

A key focus of the discussions was Ethiopia’s ongoing development of its National Action Plan (NAP) on BHR. Workers and union representatives emphasized that trade unions must play a pivotal role in shaping the NAP, ensuring that their voices are heard throughout the entire process—from policy formulation to its effective implementation. The workshop stressed that active union involvement is crucial to ensuring that workers’ rights are at the heart of Ethiopia’s approach to business and human rights.

The training also reflected on past efforts to protect human rights in the workplace and explored how international regulations, such as the German Supply Chain Act and EU CS3D, could be leveraged to enhance corporate accountability, strengthen collective bargaining, and reinforce workers' rights. However, it was noted that the success of these frameworks in Ethiopia will depend on how well they are integrated into national labor policies and enforcement mechanisms.

As the discussion turned toward action, participants made a clear call to move beyond dialogue and take concrete steps that empower workers and trade unions to shape a rights-based supply chain. The overarching question remains—are we doing enough? If not, how can Ethiopia ensure that its labor force is not left behind in the global push for responsible business conduct?