Despite ongoing reports of human rights violations and poor working conditions, many Ethiopian women continue to migrate to countries like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan. In Ethiopia, migration is often seen as a short-term strategy for economic survival and personal advancement.
A recent study, part of a larger investigation into the vulnerability and resilience of Ethiopian domestic workers, by New York University and the Freedom Fund, aims to shed light on the motivations and factors that influence women’s decision to pursue domestic work in the Middle East, despite the well-documented risks. The findings are informed by interviews and focus group discussions with 173 female Ethiopian migrant domestic workers.
The study’s findings include:
- Poor economic prospects in Ethiopia are the leading factor in women’s decision to migrate. The lack of employment opportunities in Ethiopia, and the inability to make ends meet with low wages and a rising cost of living, were critical factors pushing women to seek work abroad. Many felt that the pay expected in the Middle East would allow them to achieve personal goals, such as improving their family’s economic standing or starting a business back home.
- Women report varying degrees of personal agency in their decisions on whether and where to migrate. Participants often exercised their agency by opting for informal migration practices. This included relying on social networks, family connections, and migration facilitators to bypass bureaucratic hurdles, revealing resourcefulness in navigating complex migration systems. “Better working conditions” (37.4%) and “better pay” (29.3%) were significant motivators in women’s choice of destination.
- Participants are aware of the risks of migration and employ various coping mechanisms to mentally prepare for adverse working and living conditions. Their responses revealed three main approaches to managing risk and uncertainty: optimism, faith and pragmatism. Many women expressed their determination to endure difficult situations, such as long working hours and difficult employers, with their competence and patience in the hope of better opportunities in the future.
Based on these findings, Managing Uncertainty: Factors shaping Ethiopian women’s migration decision making suggests several strategies to improve the migration experience for Ethiopian domestic workers, including:
- Incorporating peer coaching in pre-departure training, strengthening rights enforcement in destination countries;
- Promoting the benefits of regular migration through the new digital system, and raising awareness about one-stop service centers; and
- Leveraging the expertise of returned migrant workers to inform and guide prospective migrants.
Click below to access the report.
Photo credit: Christelle Hayek / Unsplash
