Redae, Mehari (2015) Privatisation in Ethiopia the challenge it poses to unionisation and collective bargaining. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

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Abstract

The thesis explores the challenge Ethiopia as a developing country faces in responding to issues associated with economic liberalisation on the one hand and the protection and promotion of ‘core’ labour rights on the other. In order to closely examine the issue, privatisation and the collective aspects of labour rights have been considered for analysis. More specifically, the status of unionisation and collective bargaining in the privatised enterprises in Ethiopia has been examined through the medium of case studies. The literature on privatisation and labour examined the adverse effect of privatisation from the perspective of the job losses associated with it. The contribution of this thesis is its contention that job loss associated with privatisation, if any, is a short-term and an individualised issue. There are rather other concerns to the labour force associated with privatisation which are long-lasting, issue of collectivity and with broader implications.

Privatisation programme has been put into effect since the early 1980s in a more noticeable manner in terms of pace and scope in developing countries owing to, at times, external prescription from multilateral lending and donor institutions to privatise State-owned enterprises as far and as fast as possible. Responding positively to such a donor prescription brings with it a financial and technical assistance from these institutions in addition to the perception that investment would be attracted and retained with liberalised economic policy. Ethiopia has embarked upon the actual implementation of the privatisation programme since 1995.

Side by side to this, at the international level, freedom of association and collective bargaining has attained special status in the ILO jurisprudence since the adoption of the 1998 ILO Declaration. In fact, in the Ethiopian context, these labour rights have been incorporated into Ethiopian law by ratifying the relevant ILO conventions by the country in 1963. Moreover, they have been enshrined in the country’s Constitution since 1995 providing them a constitutional law status. These State actions formally impose international and national obligation on Ethiopia to respect, protect and promote the rights.

In terms of labour profile, the privatisation programme, as an aspect of economic liberalisation, expects a liberal and flexible labour market. However, such flexibility is criticised of directly or indirectly eroding labour standards including the rights to unionisation and collective bargaining. Thus this state of affairs places Ethiopian policy makers in a dilemma on how to address both sides of the concerns and interests. The dilemma has been reflected in the ambivalent position the country’s law making, implementation and interpretation activities manifested themselves.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Privatization -- Ethiopia, Collective bargaining -- Ethiopia, Labor unions -- Organizing -- Ethiopia
Official Date:	April 2015
Dates:	Date Event April 2015 Submitted
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	School of Law
Thesis Type:	PhD
Publication Status:	Unpublished
Supervisor(s)/Advisor:	Neal, Alan C., 1950-
Extent:	xi, 269 leaves

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