Linking Global Frameworks to On-the-Ground Realities

As part of its ongoing commitment to strengthening awareness of Business and Human Rights (BHR) in Ethiopia, FES is implementing a series of regional workshops in collaboration with the Confederation of Ethiopian Trade Unions (CETU). The aim is to equip workers representatives with a thorough understanding of international and national BHR frameworks and to meaningfully connect these concepts to the day-to-day realities faced by workers in companies across the country.

As part of the series on 8 May 2025 in Hawassa, we brought together workers’ representatives from the city’s industrial park that work in the textile and garment sector. After an introduction to what BHR is, why it is important and the possible remedy mechanisms out there, participants discussed and reflected on their own working conditions, exploring both the legal guarantees and the realities on the ground.

Some issues raised include the absence of formal employment contracts, denial of annual leave and sick days, non-payment of overtime and benefits, and the lack of access to safety equipment and clean drinking water. Reports of workplace harassment—particularly targeting women—were widespread, and serious concerns were raised about the lack of sanitary facilities and insufficient medical care. Environmental concerns also emerged, with several participants noting that untreated industrial waste is routinely discharged into Lake Hawassa. Furthermore, the absence of collective bargaining agreements in most factories has left many workers without effective representation or protection.

These discussions were not only revealing in documenting the gap between law and practice, but also served to raise awareness amongst workers on the ongoing process to develop a National Action Plan (NAP) on Business and Human Rights in Ethiopia. The NAP aims to provide a coherent policy framework for addressing human rights risks in business operations and promoting access to remedy.

In this context, the training in Hawassa functioned as an important platform to amplify workers’ voices. With CETU representatives in attendance, the lived experiences of workers in Hawassa can now inform CETU’s contributions to the development of the NAP.