Income
The Labour Proclamation provides for the paid sick leave for up to 6 months on completion of the probation period if sickness is certified by a qualified doctor. Workers are entitled to a maximum of six months (180 days) of sick leave within a continuous 12-month period from the first day of sickness, irrespective of whether this sick leave is consecutive or at separate times during this period. A worker is entitled to sick leave if he/she is incapable of work owing to the sickness, other than resulting from occupational injury. A worker must inform the employer about his/her absence due to sickness and provide a medical certificate issued by a medical organisation recognized by the Government. The employer may provide paid sick leave as follows:
- 100% of wages during the first month of sick leave;
- 50% of wages during the second & third months of sick leave; and
- unpaid leave from the fourth u.0ntil the sixth month.
Source: §85-86 of the Labour Proclamation No. 1156/2019; ISSA Country Profile for Ethiopia
Medical Care
The Social Health Insurance Proclamation, passed in 2010, provides medical and health services to the workers. All workers are required to be members of the social health insurance scheme. Where a worker sustains employment injury, the employer has to cover the medical service expenses on general and specialised medical and surgical care, hospital and pharmaceutical care and any necessary prosthetic or orthopaedic appliances. Implementation of the 2010 Social Health Insurance Proclamation has been delayed in practice.
Proclamation No. 1273 on Community-based Health Insurance, passed in 2022, provides for universal health coverage.
Source: ISSA Country Profile for Ethiopia; §105 of the Labour Proclamation No. 1156/2019
Job Security
Employment of a sick worker is secure during the term of his sick leave. During the period of valid sick leave (up to 6 months), the employer cannot dismiss the employee solely based on illness. Dismissal during valid sick leave without justification is considered unfair dismissal.
Source: §85-86 of the Labour Proclamation No. 1156/2019
