Hope for Justice has been training recruitment agencies in Ethiopia to address a shocking lack of modern slavery awareness.
Part of our role in preventing exploitation is to identify areas where there is limited knowledge or understanding of modern slavery and human trafficking – and to increase awareness.
A major contributing factor to child trafficking in Ethiopia is the failure of brokers and recruitment agents to recognise child protection and modern slavery risks. To address this challenge, we organised a targeted training session for recruitment agencies and affiliated networks. This is part of a series of connected projects through our Community Prevention Programme in Ethiopia, aimed at tackling the root causes of child trafficking.
Indrias Metamu, our Programme Manager based in the capital Addis Ababa, co-organised the training alongside Andinet Ethiopian Domestic Workers Union (AEDWAU).
Importance of training
Indrias said: “Brokers and recruitment agents often serve as intermediaries who place workers — including domestic workers — in private households. Without proper awareness and training, this process can become a channel for exploitation and modern slavery. By strengthening their understanding of legal and ethical hiring practices, we aim to reduce these risks significantly. This training was part of a proactive approach to addressing the systemic issues that lead to human trafficking. We believe it is a critical step toward creating safer, more just, working environments for vulnerable populations.”
Our team identified the lack of awareness among recruiters through community engagement, project activities and direct interactions with brokers and agents. We conducted stakeholder consultations, field assessments and monitoring visits which revealed that many brokers lacked an understanding of national labour laws, child protection principles and modern slavery.
More than 50 people attended the training at Sora Amba Hotel in Addis Ababa, including representatives from recruitment agencies and officials from the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.
To address gaps in knowledge, the training session covered topics such as national labour laws, workers’ rights, gender-sensitive approaches, and ethical and legal recruitment practices. The training aimed to ensure that recruitment agencies and brokers are well-informed and equipped to follow ethical and lawful employment practices. This is an important step in protecting vulnerable individuals, particularly children and women, from exploitation and human trafficking.
Key outcomes
The training had positive outcomes: increased awareness, behaviour change, and many participants demonstrating a stronger understanding of the issue. Some recruitment agencies have already begun reviewing and updating their hiring procedures.
Some of the brokers who attended have begun advocating within their networks for ethical recruitment practices. They are also actively discouraging child recruitment and unsafe labour migration.
A few participants from recruitment agencies want ongoing collaboration with civil society organisations and government bodies, to continue promoting safe migration and fair employment practices.
The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs representatives said there were plans to enhance their oversight of recruitment agencies and implement stricter monitoring of brokers’ practices.
