Assessment Of Workers' Rights Vis-À-Vis Investors' Obligations In Eastern Industrial Park

Abstract

This research assessed investor’s compliance with legal duty of non-discriminatory labor standards in addressing young workers’ rights based on Ethiopian investment and labor laws including ILO discrimination convention No. 111. To address these issues and for strong evidence based claims, qualitative research method including in-depth face to face interview was used. The study employed purposive sampling technique to select informants for in-depth face to face interview. Purposive sampling used because the targeted groups have information about treatment of young workers at work place, activities of investors and have better understanding of the issues. The qualitative data analyzed and interpreted thematically against the relevant research issues. The findings of the study indicated that young employees in the eastern industrial park experienced harassment and discrimination due to their sex, language, or ethnicity. Foreign enterprises and domestic investors disregarding the laws governing investments and labor hire or fire employees as they like in the eastern industrial park. Limited capacity of labor inspection, absence of labor union, rampant corrupt practices and absence of good governance are the practical challenges to address workers problems in eastern industrial park. Based on the findings, investors should take adequate precautions and use non-discriminatory labor standards in their operations in order to preserve the rights of young workers. Avoid any promotion or benefit based on ethnicity or language, and discrimination and harassment in relation to employment and recruiting. Additionally, having a fully operating labor union would be beneficial in this situation and should be established as soon as feasible.