In Ethiopia, the Solidarity Center supports the efforts of the Confederation of Ethiopian Trade Unions to protect civil and labor rights and reduce economic inequality. Credit: Measho Birehu
The Solidarity Center in Ethiopia supports the efforts of the Confederation of Ethiopian Trade Unions (CETU) to protect civil and labor rights, reduce economic inequality and support working people’s participation in the country’s process of rebuilding its economic and legislative frameworks.
As one of Ethiopia’s largest multi-ethnic and multi-religious civil society organizations, with 570,000 members in 1,700 unions, CETU is uniquely positioned to represent workers. With Solidarity Center support, CETU strives to improve member outreach through its regional centers by organizing in construction, agriculture and textiles sectors and ensuring worker interests are represented to national government officials as the political and economic reform process moves forward.
The democratization process that began after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took office in Ethiopia one year ago will run aground unless its citizens become increasingly rooted in inclusive civil society institutions, like trade unions, that are capable of overcoming...