Belgium says working with Ethiopia to promote decent work for all

Addis Ababa January 25,2023 (FBC)- The second Chocolate, Coffee forum  underscored that inclusive and sustainable economic growth, with full and productive employment for all undertaken can be realized with a minimum wage.

The second Chocolate and Coffee talks, Organized by Belgium Embassy in Addis Ababa in collaboration with the International Labor Organization (ILO) held today discussing the relations between foreign investment and wage policy with a focus on Ethiopia.

According to Belgium embassy the forum conducted with a theme “Attracting quality investment: The role of Minimum Wage A Focus on Ethiopia”

Presenting a research report on the forum Patrick Belser, Senior Economist and Wage Specialist at ILO, said that well designed minimum wage can contribute to the realization in overcoming poverty and reduces inequality.

He added that minimum wage protects workers against unduly low pay as a result it helps to ensure a just and equitable share of the fruits of progress and overcomes gender inequality in work places.

Stefaan Thijs, Ambassador of Belgium to Ethiopia and Djibouti and Permanent representative to the African Union, on his part said that the reduction of inequality and the promotion of decent work for all women and men have been identified as key objectives in the 2063 sustainable Development Agenda, adopted at the UN can achieve equal pay for work of equal value.

The Ambassador added that the Embassy is working with the Ethiopian government to implement the existing policy towards it.

The occasion called on all stakeholders to determine and implement minimum wage in Ethiopia as the need of workers and their families, taking into account the general level of wages in the country.

By: Yonathan Yoseph