The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has deployed a data management system for the Ministry of Labour & Social Affairs at a cost of 70,000 dollars.

The Ethiopian Migrants Data Management System is a decentralised migrant electronic registration software system designed by Philippine firm LBS eBusiness Solutions Corporation. The system took two years to develop and is currently being tested by the Ministry.

“We hope the system will contribute to the improvement of labour migration governance in Ethiopia through better coordination among pertinent stakeholders, as well as better protection for safe and regular migration,” said ILO’s Aida Awel, chief technical advisor to the project, the official name of which is Improved Labour Migration Governance to Protect Migrant Workers & Combat Irregular Migration in Ethiopia.

The system registers migrants through collaboration with governments and agencies, as well as through the individual will of applicants. Those that have applied for the registration can apply for special identification cards.

The management system documents the movement of employees from Ethiopia in pre-departure to other countries and their return through registrations at regional states, the Immigration Office and overseas embassies.

The Ministry plans to open an office at the Immigration Office dedicated to overseas employment and the issuance of ID cards, including checking up on migrant deployment.

"The main objective of this is to look after employees that have finalised the procurement requirements for overseas legal employment, especially in the Gulf countries," Buzualem Birzu, System Management team leader at the Ministry, said.

The system will also have a labour attaché at embassies assigned to oversee the safety and security of overseas employees.