Rights and Reality: The Working Conditions of Female Factory Workers in Selected Manufacturing Industry Sites in Ethiopia

Abstract

The past few years have seen gradual expansion of the manufacturing industry in
Ethiopia, creating employment opportunity for thousands of Ethiopians. There is a
growing concern that the much-touted growing employment opportunity in the
manufacturing sector is not matched by decent working conditions. This paper
aims to present an assessment of the working conditions of female factory workers
by focusing on a study conducted at selected manufacturing industry sites.
Through a qualitative method and using the standard conditions of work set by the
law as points of reference, the paper examines the working conditions of female
factory workers as well as their interaction with the formal legal system to
vindicate their rights and advance their interests in the workplace. It has been
found out female factory workers, which constitute the largest portion of the work
force in the manufacturing industries, are concentrated in blue collar jobs and
survive under dismal working conditions that are way below the standards set by
the law. A number of factors that hinder female factory workers from demanding
enforcement of their rights utilizing the law and the formal legal system were also
noted. The research findings point to the need for serious of legislative and
programmatic interventions to ameliorate the condition of female factory workers.