POLITICAL SYSTEM
General Information
Ethiopia is a federal parliamentary republic.
The supreme legislative body is the bicameral Federal Parliament.
Head of state – President Taye Atske-Selassie Amde, performing predominantly ceremonial functions.
Executive power belongs to the government headed by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali.
A multi-party system operates in the country.
Development of industry and agriculture, as well as strengthening inter-ethnic unity, are key directions of domestic policy.
Constitutional System
The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia is a federal state, divided into 11 states (regions) formed on an ethno-linguistic principle, and 2 self-governing cities of federal significance – Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa. The current Constitution was adopted in 1995 and establishes the federal structure and democratic principles.
The Federal Parliament includes two chambers: the House of People's Representatives: 547 deputies elected through a majoritarian system for a five-year term; the House of Federation: 153 members representing regions and nationalities.
Labor Relations
The foundation of labor legislation in Ethiopia is Labor Proclamation No. 1156/2019, which establishes rules concerning working conditions, including working hours, minimum age for employment, overtime pay, and night shift pay. The 1995 Constitution guarantees fundamental workers' rights.
In Ethiopia, there is no national minimum wage for the private sector. For the public sector, a wage of 420 ETB is established.
The working week is 48 hours: 8 hours per day with a 6-day week. Overtime work is paid at one and a half times the rate for the first 2 hours and at double the rate for subsequent hours.
An employee has the right to annual paid leave – 14 working days after a year of continuous work; additional days of leave for work in hazardous conditions; maternity leave – 120 calendar days with full salary retention.
In 2023, measures were adopted to improve the occupational health and safety system at production facilities.
Trade Unions
State regulation of trade union activities is carried out through the Ministry of Labor and Skills. According to data as of 2024, more than 2 thousand trade unions are registered in the country, uniting approximately 800 thousand workers. The largest association is the Confederation of Ethiopian Trade Unions (CETU).
According to the Labor Code, workers have the right to create trade unions and conduct strikes after notifying the employer 10 days in advance. Trade unions actively participate in social dialogue, including negotiations on raising the minimum wage and improving working conditions.