Proclamation No. 1389-2025 on Overseas Employment

Short Title The law is officially cited as Ethiopia’s Overseas Employment Proclamation No 1389/2025.

Proc. No.–1389-2017

Issuing Organ The proclamation was issued by the House of Peoples’ Representatives of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. It was signed into law by Taye Atske-Selassie, the President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.

Effective Date This proclamation entered into force on August 8, 2025, the date of its publication in the Federal Negarit Gazette.

Implementing Authority The Ministry of Labor and Skills is the primary government body responsible for providing, leading, executing, and regulating overseas employment services.

Purpose and Scope The main objectives are to protect the rights, safety, and dignity of Ethiopians seeking overseas employment and to ensure they receive the rightful benefits from their work. It aims to strengthen legal pathways through bilateral agreements and serves as an instrument to prevent and suppress the trafficking and smuggling of persons. The proclamation applies to all overseas employment relations of Ethiopians conducted through public organs, private agencies, or direct employment.

Institutional Framework The law establishes the Ethiopian Overseas Employment Board to coordinate stakeholders and ensure the protection of citizens’ rights abroad. It also mandates the use of a digital labor market information system for collecting and managing all data related to overseas employment, including personal data and contracts. Furthermore, it provides for the assignment of Labor Attachés to Ethiopian missions abroad to monitor and support workers.

Agency Requirements Private agencies must be licensed and are classified into five levels based on criteria such as capital and the number of workers they deploy. Capital requirements range from 5 million Birr for level five to 20 million Birr for level one. Agencies are required to deposit a financial guarantee in USD or its equivalent in Birr to secure the protection of workers’ rights.

Repeals This legislation repeals the former Overseas Employment Proclamation No. 923/2016 and its amendment, Proclamation No. 1246/2021. Existing agencies wishing to continue operations must obtain a new license within three months of this proclamation’s effective date.