Description

Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (MoLSA) is empowered to issue Directives to specify the categories of foreign nationals entitled to work permits and the terms and conditions for the issuance of work permits. Accordingly, MoLSA issued the Directive on the 1st of January 2019. According to this Directive, foreign national may be in a position to engage in wage-earning employment on condition that he or she has a valid work permit. It further states, having a work permit from the competent governmental body is a mandatory requirement for a foreigner to be employed for any type of work in Ethiopia. Article 16(1) of the Directive to Determine the Procedure for Refugees Right to Work provides that a recognized refugee or asylum seeker may engage in wage earning employment upon obtaining a work permit from the competent government body. Therefore, this Directive is necessary to examine the types, conditions and procedures regarding the issuance of work permits for refugees and asylum seekers.