Ethiopia’s 50th Labour Day: Prompt response from government for our demands!

On 1 May 2025, Ethiopia marked its 50th national celebration of International Labour Day. Under the motto “መንግስት ላቀረብናቸው ጥያቄዎች አስቸኳይ ምላሽ ይስጠን!” (“Prompt response from government for our demands!”), the Confederation of Ethiopian Trade Unions (CETU) together with FES Ethiopia used this day to amplify worker’s voices and to demand urgent action. Representatives from worker’s associations, employer’s union, the Ministry of Labour and Skills and others joined the national commemoration to reflect on progress and push for reforms. As part of the program, the Confederation’s president, Kassahun Follo, took the stage to present a comprehensive list of long-standing demands, calling on the government to deliver immediate and concrete responses.

During his address, Mr. Kassahun laid out eight urgent demands to the Ethiopian government, reflecting the concerns of workers across the country. He called for a reduction in the income tax burden placed on low- and middle-income earners, especially in light of the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. Furthermore, he reiterated the need to operationalize the national minimum wage board by finalizing the necessary regulation and making it effective without further delay. He also demanded stronger protections for workers’ freedom of association, urging legal action against employers who retaliate against or refuse to recognize legally formed unions. Addressing persistent occupational safety risks, he emphasized the need for more effective labour inspections to prevent injury and loss of life in workplaces. He urged the government to ratify key ILO conventions (97, 143, 189, and 190) that safeguard the rights of migrant and domestic workers. Additional calls included supporting national reconciliation efforts through the National Dialogue Commission, and responding to CETU’s previously submitted position paper by granting workers’ representatives access to high-level decision-makers.

These demands follow a prolonged process of political dialogue and advocacy work at various levels to advance labour rights and improve working conditions in Ethiopia. Since 2019, trade unions, supported by civil society and international partners, have actively engaged with government institutions to push for reforms, culminating in the adoption of a revised Labour Proclamation. While this legislation laid the groundwork for important advances — including the establishment of a national minimum wage board — implementation has remained slow and inconsistent. The persistent gap between law and practice has raised growing concerns among workers and their representatives. Is the lack of response to workers’ demands due to neglect or a sign of deep-rooted structural problems? Why is there no clear accountability for implementing legal provisions already in place? These questions remain unanswered as we celebrate May Day 2025.