Ethiopia
At a glance Index rank 12
Estimated number enslaved 620,000 – 680,000
Population 91.73 million (2012)
GDP $43.13 billion (2012)
GDP/Capita $470 (2012)
US TIP Report Ranking Tier 2 (2013)
Remittances as a share of GDP 2% (2011)
1. The problem
Ethiopia is a landlocked country that shares a border with Djibouti,
Eritrea, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan. As a country with a low
level of economic and social development, a poor human rights record and
high rates of unemployment, Ethiopians – including men, women and
children – are at risk of various forms of modern slavery.
In recent years Ethiopia has seen a rapid increase in outward
migration, with millions of Ethiopians travelling throughout Africa and
overseas, mostly to Gulf States and the Middle East, to find work. The
Ethiopian Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, which is largely
responsible for migration issues, reported that it reviewed and approved
198, 000 contracts for overseas employment, predominately for domestic
workers in 2012; a 50% increase from 2011. This only represents part of
the huge numbers of those migrating overseas – with well-placed sources
claiming this is only 30 – 40 % of the overall figure. Irregular
migration, including migration facilitated by illegal brokers, makes up
the remaining 60 – 70%.5 According
to UNHCR, many of these migrants use Yemen and Djibouti as transit
points between Ethiopia and the Middle East. Between 1 January and 30
November 2012, a total of 107, 500 migrants arrived in Yemen; 84,000 of
which were Ethiopians.
The increased migration of Ethiopians abroad has led to increased
reports of abuse and exploitation of workers. The majority of regular
outward migrants are young women, with limited education, seeking
domestic work in the Middle East. There are documented cases of women
being stranded and exploited during transit or being exploited upon
reaching their destination during their search for work.7 In
the absence of regular employment channels for men, young males turn to
irregular migration routes, predominately through the horn of Africa
and Yemen. Reports
suggest that these Ethiopian males are subjected to forced labour in
low skilled jobs including waste disposal, camel and goat herding and
construction in Yemen, Djibouti and the Middle East.
In addition to the exploitation of Ethiopian migrant workers abroad,
modern slavery is also an issue within Ethiopia, particularly for
children. UNICEF estimates that at least 1.2 million children are
enslaved in Ethiopia every year. According to UNICEF, Ethiopia has one of the highest rates of child labour in the world. Girls
from rural areas are exploited in domestic and commercial sex work,
while boys are subjected to forced labour in traditional weaving,
herding, guarding and street vending.
For more information clike http://www.globalslaveryindex.org/findings/#studies
SOURCE, THE GLOBAL SLAVERY INDEX 2013
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