Abraham Ayalew, head of the national cooperation secretariat at the Ministry, spoke about the lack of progress on the victim rehabilitation fund established by Parliament during an event this week marking the launch of an International Organization for Migration (IOM) initiative.

Although the Prevention and Suppression of Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Persons Proclamation established a fund for the rehabilitation of victims of human trafficking and smuggling in 2020, the absence of regulations and directives outlining how the fund will function means it exists only in name, according to Abraham.

The fund is meant to cover medical, legal, and health costs for trafficking victims, as well as pay for material support, technical training, reintegration, and the construction of shelters. It would also serve to “pay compensation determined by the court in accordance with Regulations to be issued by the Council of Ministers.”

However, no regulations have been ratified by the Council yet.

The proclamation envisions the fund being pooled from the government budget, confiscated properties and fines collected from convicted traffickers, and grants and donations, but no money is flowing in due to the absence of a supporting legal framework.

“So far, we haven’t put any money seized from human trafficking into the government’s coffers. Of course, fines have been collected, but this money is not going into the fund either,” said Abraham.

Trafficking has become increasingly entrenched in Ethiopia as shrinking work opportunities and worsening economic conditions push citizens, mostly youth, to emigrate in search of a better life. Although there are efforts being made to send Ethiopians abroad for work through formal channels, the vast majority of emigrants leave the country through a large trafficking network consisting of brokers and smugglers.

This often leads to serious rights violations, abuses, and deaths.

In August, more than 160 Ethiopian migrants were presumed dead after a boat capsized off the coast of Yemen. Seventy-six of them have since been confirmed dead, while the rest are still missing. This week, the bodies of 10 migrants (most of whom are Ethiopian) washed up on the coast of Djibouti.

The IOM estimates that up to 300,000 Ethiopians migrate each year, with the vast majority doing so through dangerous smuggling routes.

This week, the organization unveiled a five-year strategic plan aiming to provide sustainable solutions to displacement and find safe migration routes.

During the launch ceremony, Houria Ali, a state minister for Women and Social Affairs, noted that conflict, drought, and climate change are fueling illegal migration and human trafficking.

The strategic plan is a roadmap focused on preventing irregular migration by providing protection and life-saving support to displaced persons, rehabilitating and repatriating displaced people, and promoting a regular migration system, according to IOM Ethiopia chief Abibatou Wane.

The travel ban was imposed in 2016 following the mass deportation of tens of thousands of “undocumented” Ethiopian maids by Gulf countries, mainly from Saudi Arabia. In addition to the forced deportations, the plight of migrants who have been abused by human traffickers had prompted the government to impose the temporary travel ban until the introduction of a new legal framework that would bring a “lasting solution” to the problem.

Following the travel sanction, the House in 2016 approved two proclamations against human trafficking as well as on overseas employment with a view to ensuring the well-being of citizens and preventing illegal migrants and human traffickers.

However, many MPs at Thursday’s session questioned the minister why it took this long to enforce the new rules.

One MP questioned the wisdom of keeping citizens idle even though the sanction should have been lifted a year ago, while another one warned that the longer the sanction remained in place, the higher the risk of  putting job-seekers at the mercy of human traffickers. “Though it has been two years since the proclamation was enacted, it has not been enforced. This excessive delay has now created a fertile ground for illegal migration,” a female MP observed.

Responding to the questions, the minister told MPs that his office had already submitted a recommendation to the government to lift the ban, and it is awaiting a decision by the Council of Ministers.

Abdulfetah also explained that the ministry had already prepared draft agreements with three employee-receiving countries, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Lebanon. The draft document had also been sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment.

“However, we are still awaiting the government’s decision to lift the ban and to sign agreements with these countries and to begin issuing licenses to agents as well,” he told MPs.

He also indicated that he expects an agreement would be signed with Lebanon soon while another agreement would also be reached with Saudi Arabia.

He also said that 21 erstwhile-licensed employment agencies have also been barred from facilitating travel abroad.

Meanwhile, of a total of 820 new and 178 existing agents who applied for licenses, only six have qualified to get licenses based on the new proclamation.

However, the House urged the ministry to speed up the implementation of the proclamation despite the factors the minister mentioned.

The government has been working towards a stricter legislation and creating job opportunities to curb illegal migration through which countless Ethiopians had lost their lives or undergone untold physical and psychological trauma.

It is to be recalled that the government had taken various measures to limit the suffering of citizens, including the setting up of a national council and a task force to educate them.

The government has also been criticized since the measures had not been able to address the problem sufficiently. According to experts, the lack of employment opportunities is a major factor fuelling emigration from Ethiopia and neighboring countries.