Over 112,600 Ethiopians have been repatriated from 12 countries during the past fiscal year, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA).
More than 24, 700 Ethiopians who were set free from detention in 19 foreign countries also repatriated during the stated period after the government of Ethiopia came to terms with respective countries.
Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the consular offices in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) repatriated the stated number of people.
Yohannes Shode, Consular Affairs Director General at MoFA told journalists on Monday that the government of Saudi Arabia in particular has played a critical role including covering transport costs and other facilitations for the returnees.
Apart from repatriation, the ministry has been actively working on securing properties of Ethiopians who they have been unfairly denied including their unpaid salaries, he noted.
Cognizant of the seriousness of the situation, the government is working with various countries to implement the legal labor agreements in order to protect its citizens from mistreatment.
“We have already entered into a labor agreement with the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which includes soliciting jobs for skilled applicants. We have also inked an agreement with Qatar which targeted legible Ethiopians to work in that country and protect their rights,” he added.
Agreements with Jordan and UAE is also stated among the measures being undertaken by the government to reduce the burden of citizens in addition to repatriating those who are suffering due to illegal entry to the respective countries, he pointed out.
The agreements signed with various countries, contain articles that provide protections for workers, which will benefit Ethiopians who still travel to the Middle East in search for work each week.
The new legislation aims to protect citizens from ill-treatment through institutionalize regulations for recruitment agencies, minimum age and level of education, and training for migrant workers before departure.
MG/as/APA