Improving worker compensation in Ethiopia: Insights from the special economic zone
Feb 10, 2026 | 3:15 PM - 4:00 PM
Description
Organised by GIZ
The share of workers covered by a living wage in Ethiopia remains marginal. While wage regulation is beginning to gain traction in recent policy frameworks, the ambition for social change within the industrialization process is still uneven. In 2024, the Special Economic Zone Proclamation (SEZ; EIC, 2023) called for standardized living wage levels across all Special Economic Zones in Ethiopia. In this context, the GIZ brought together stakeholders to advance progressive wage reform. Several methodological approaches are being discussed, guided by a common objective: ensuring decent jobs without undermining employment prospects. This session will present the process that enabled both the discussion and the initial steps toward implementation of a living wage.
More information and registration
