Ethiopia Moves to Professionalise Domestic Work with Mandatory Training and Certification Plan
Ethiopia is taking a major step toward transforming its domestic work sector, with the government considering a new regulation that would require domestic workers to undergo formal training and obtain professional certification before entering the workforce.
The proposed regulation, currently under review by the Ministry of Justice after being submitted by the Ministry of Labour and Skills, aims to professionalise domestic work, improve labour standards, and provide greater recognition and protection for thousands of workers employed in households across the country.
Under the draft framework, aspiring domestic workers would be required to complete training through Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions before undertaking a Certificate of Competence (CoC) assessment. Successful candidates would then be certified to work within the sector, creating a more structured and regulated labour market.
The proposal was a central topic during a stakeholder consultation hosted by the Forum for Social Studies (FSS), where government officials, labour representatives, researchers, domestic workers’ associations, and journalists gathered to discuss the implications of the reform and provide feedback.
For decades, domestic work in Ethiopia has largely operated within an informal system. Employment arrangements are often made directly between households and workers or facilitated by brokers, making it difficult for authorities to monitor working conditions, enforce labour standards, or accurately assess the size of the sector. As a result, many domestic workers have remained outside formal labour protections enjoyed by workers in other industries.
According to Hirut Abera, President of the Andinet Domestic Workers’ Union, the proposed regulation would introduce a registration system through the Ministry of Labour and Skills’ Labour Market Information System. This would replace the current dependence on informal recruitment channels and brokers, helping create a more transparent and accountable employment process.
The planned training programme would not only focus on practical domestic skills but would also equip workers with communication and professional relationship skills necessary for interacting effectively with employers. Supporters of the proposal believe such measures will contribute to improved workplace relationships and greater professionalism within households employing domestic staff.
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In addition to certification requirements, the draft regulation introduces comprehensive provisions governing working conditions, employment relationships, and occupational classifications. Domestic workers would be limited to eight working hours per day and a maximum of 48 hours per week, bringing the sector more closely in line with formal labour standards applied in other professions.
The proposed reforms come amid longstanding concerns about working conditions in the domestic work sector. Previous research conducted by the UK-based anti-slavery organisation Freedom Fund in partnership with the Population Council revealed that child domestic workers in Addis Ababa worked an average of 55 hours per week. The study further found that one-quarter of workers exceeded 70 hours weekly, while 40 percent reported having no weekly rest day.
The regulation would also establish formal occupational categories within domestic work, allowing workers to be employed according to their certified skills and areas of expertise. Advocates say this could improve career development opportunities, create clearer expectations for employers, and enhance the professional status of domestic workers nationwide.
Stakeholders at the consultation noted that discussions surrounding the regulation have been ongoing for nearly a decade, passing through various government institutions before reaching its current stage. Its submission to the Ministry of Justice is therefore being viewed as a significant milestone toward formal adoption.
Despite broad support for the initiative, participants acknowledged that implementing the regulation may present challenges. Many highlighted the difficulty of transitioning a sector traditionally built on personal arrangements and informal agreements into one governed by certification requirements, registration systems, and formal labour standards.
Questions were also raised about whether certain provisions, particularly the proposed eight-hour workday, accurately reflect the realities of domestic work, where schedules often depend on household routines and family needs rather than fixed shifts.
Additionally, some stakeholders expressed concerns that the costs associated with training and certification could increase service costs for employers or create barriers for low-income households seeking domestic assistance. Others called for stronger dispute resolution mechanisms to address conflicts between workers and employers as the sector undergoes formalisation.
While several issues remain under discussion, the draft regulation is widely regarded as one of the most significant efforts in Ethiopia’s history to recognise domestic work as a formal profession. If adopted, the reform could reshape employment practices across the country, improve protections for workers, and establish new standards for one of Ethiopia’s largest yet historically overlooked labour sectors.
The Ministry of Labour and Skills has yet to provide additional details regarding the timeline for implementation, but the proposal’s advancement to the Ministry of Justice signals that Ethiopia may be closer than ever to introducing a comprehensive regulatory framework for domestic work.
