At least 46 migrants trying to cross from Somalia to Yemen have drowned when their boat capsized, UN officials quoted by BBC as saying.
Another 16 people are missing after the vessel overturned in rough seas off Yemen’s coast, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) says.
Survivors say the smuggler’s boat was carrying at least 100 people who had left the port of Bosaso to find work in Yemen and other Gulf countries.
All the migrants were Ethiopian nationals.
The IOM says the boat capsized in the Gulf of Aden on Wednesday morning. Among the victims were 37 men and nine women.
A number of passengers on board the crammed vessel were without life jackets, survivors say.
“Over 7,000 poor migrants take this perilous journey every month; some 100,000 took it just last year,” said IOM official Mohammed Abdiker.
“They are treated appallingly and go through horrendous conditions. This has to end,” he added.
Migrants and refugees have been travelling to Yemen from the Horn of Africa for decades because of its proximity and the perception of the country as a gateway to other Gulf states and Europe.
At least 46 Ethiopian migrants drown off Yemen’s coast
South Africa’s MTN, Vodacom interested in Ethiopia’s telecoms market
Two South Africa’s firms- MTN Group and Vodacom Groupare interest in the Ethiopian telecoms market, a day after the East African country announced plans to partially privatize its government owned companies.
According to Reuters, South Africa’s MTN Group said on Wednesday “it was excited by the potential opening up of the Ethiopian market “as it would be a natural fit for MTN’s existing pan African footprint.”
“Ethiopia presents many exciting telecommunication opportunities and we look forward to further discussions with that nation’s authorities on potential partnerships and opportunities,” the mobile network provider told Reuters in an emailed response to questions.
Similarly, South Africa’s Vodacom Group is interested in the Ethiopian telecoms market, it said today.
“Vodacom has said on many occasions that Ethiopia is an attractive market so it follows that there would be interest. Naturally this is dependent on what might become available and if it fits within our investment parameters,” Vodacom’s spokesman said.
The Executive Committee of the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) on Monday June 4 passed the decision to partially liberalize the economy.
The move is aimed at attracting Ethiopian Diaspora as well as potential local and foreign investors in Ethiopia’s fast-growing economy.
The Committee decided to expand mixed ownership or full privatization of state-owned enterprises such as railway and sugar projects, industrial parks, hotels and manufacturing industries.
The Committee also put directions to privatize Ethio-telecom, Ethiopian Airlines, electric power generation projects, with the government having the majority stake.
Fighting irregular migration
In search of a better life thousands of Ethiopians go to Europe, South Africa and Arab countries through illegal means. However this is difficult, dangerous and often fatal. If they are not killed many are raped and tortured. ILO is one of the organizations working to cut the flow of illegal migration. Aida Awel is currently working as a Chief Technical Adviser on Labour migration for the ILO Country Office for Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan and South Sudan. She argues that more awareness and job creation in the local market should be done to reduce illegal migration.
Aida Awel has worked closely with the AU, the UNECA and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) in promoting the Decent Work Agenda. Since 2010, she has supported Technical Development programs and projects in Ethiopia and Somalia. She was also involved in the development of the Employment for Peace strategy paper for the Horn of Africa. She supported the development of the first and second generations of the Decent Work Country Program and UNDAF for Ethiopia. She is currently a PHD Candidate with Walden University and holds an MBA in International Business from the University of Greenwich and LLB in law from the London Guildhall University.
Capital’s Tesfaye Getnet spoke to Aida to learn about the causes for and solutions to illegal migration. Excerpts:
Capital: What are the major achievements of ILO?
Aida Awel: The ILO was established in 1919 and is the only tripartite UN agency bringing together government, employers and workers’ representatives of 187 Member States to set labour standards, develop policies and devise programmes promoting decent work for all women and men. The ILO aims to promote the Decent Work agenda, in particular decent employment creation, social protection, rights at work, and social dialogue, to promote social justice and internationally recognized human and labour rights. The ILO Decent Work Agenda and its four pillars is an integral element of the new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Migration has been the issue of the ILO since its establishment in 1919. The ILO is promoting the rights of migrant workers by setting International Labour Standards, including the ILO migrant workers’ rights convention as well as through its Multilateral Framework on Labour Migration, and fair migration agenda.
The ILO Country Office for Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan and South Sudan implements its programmes and projects in support of the Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP), which is developed by its tripartite constituents based on their priorities. Currently, ILO-CO Addis Ababa is managing four projects in the area of labour migration.
As an office we have a lot of achievements, but to state a few in the past 5 years or so in the area of labour migration:
The ILO has supported the revision of the Ethiopian Overseas Employment Proclamation 923/2016. With an aim to improve the working conditions of Ethiopian migrant workers in destination countries, ILO has supported the signing of a Bilateral Trade Union Agreement between the Confederation of Ethiopian Trade Unions (CETU) and the Fédération Nationale Des Syndicats des Ouvriers et Employés au Liban (FENSOL) to further strengthen the relationship between the two trade union organizations on the protection of Ethiopian migrants. Besides, the ILO strengthened the capacity of the National Anti-Trafficking Task Force and provided support to Public Employment Agencies (PEA) in the development and validation of the PEA internal code of conduct aligned with the Overseas Employment Proclamation 923/2016.
The other area we work is capacity building of key government institutions, mainly the Ministry and its Bureaus of Labour and Social Affairs (MoLSA and BoLSAs), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) and its Foreign Missions, and ILO’s social partners (CETU and the Ethiopian Employers Federation (EEF))were strengthened through the provision of specialized trainings, experience sharing programs as well as national, international, inter-regional dialogues and knowledge sharing forums on various thematic areas related to labour migration.
To enhance better administration of records of Ethiopian migrant workers leaving and returning to the country, the ILO supported the development of a web-based Ethiopian Migrants Data Management System, which provides specific, full and up-to-date data on migrant workers.
ILO has supported MOLSA in the development of pre-departure and pre-employment training manual and reintegration guideline to equip migrants with the necessary knowledge when seeking employment overseas and retuning back home.
ILO has been working to ensure smooth reintegration of returnees into the labour market through the provision of psychosocial support, entrepreneurship training, vocational skills training, business development services and the improvement of returnees’ access to finance in collaboration with implementing partners like AGAR, WISE, ESHURURU and governmental institutions such as Technical and Vocational Education and Training Bureau (TVET) and BoLSA. To date we have supported over 15,000 returnees.
To support evidence-based policy making and labour migration programme development and implementation, the ILO conducted around ten researches in countries of origin and destinations for Ethiopian Migrants. Out of the ten, four studies focus on irregular migration, smuggling and trafficking and migrant workers situation in destination countries with the objective to bridge knowledge and information gaps and build evidence for practitioner and policy makers. These studies reveal the hidden and unspoken realities that Ethiopian migrants face in the recruitment, journey and destinations. They describe the mechanisms and cost of recruitment, means of deception and coercion, and more generally the working conditions of migrants in the various countries of destination. Furthermore, they present the magnitude and prevalence of human trafficking and its root causes.
ILO designed and implemented different awareness raising and sensitization programs to provide basic and practical information for potential migrants, migrants and returnees. To this end, the ILO has developed various Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials, audio and video infotainments, and structured interactive or face-to-face programs. To mention a few, the ILO developed and disseminated various information materials such as Rights and Obligations leaflets, FAQs and information guides in English, Amharic, Tigrigna and Afaan Oromo languages on basic and practical issues of labour migration.
ILO supported and facilitated high profile public information campaigns by using broadcastmedia. It supporteda television drama series in Amharic, Tigrigna and Afan Oromo and featured film entitled “Enkopa” on irregular migration.
Capital: Besides enforcing the law what else can be done to discourage migration?
Aida Awel: The Ethiopian economy as well as its population has shown high growth. However, the economic growth has not been job rich, particularly for the youth. Furthermore, the high unemployment rate coupled with poverty, family and peer pressure, and low public awareness on the positive and negative aspects of migration has served as a driver. Also recurrent drought and environmental shocks, and inducements by smugglers and traffickers have pushed people to migrate to the capital province or abroad in search of better opportunities and to support their family. At the same time, advancement of information and communication technology, social networks, better living standards and demand for labour in major destination countries are some of the major pulling factors.
According to Ethiopia’s Proclamation No. 909/15 on Prevention and Suppression of Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants, anyone involved in irregular migration directly or indirectly is punished by law. However, the legal framework alone will not deter irregular migration. Combating irregular migration needs to go beyond legal frameworks and enforcement. The ILO in its fair migration agenda suggests comprehensive response mechanism for better migration management in general and reduces irregular migration in particular.
The creation of more decent work opportunities and addressing root causes of migration in Ethiopia is key in making migration an option rather than a necessity. Similarly, addressing youth unemployment and underemployment is crucial for youth to see migration as an option.
Ethiopia has signed bilateral agreement with four Middle East countries and is negotiating with two additional countries to promote well-regulated and fairmigration. The government needs to enhance such efforts to allow migrant access to fair migration mechanisms.
Instituting fair recruitment processes is vital to reduce illegal recruitment of migrants by smugglers and brokers, promoting and instituting fair recruitment process will encourage migrants to migrate regularly than irregularly.
Capital: What should the youth know about the negative impact of irregular migration?
Aida Awel: Abundant numbers of information campaigns through different channels and mediums have been disseminating information on the dangers or negative consequences of irregular migration.
While information campaigns are useful in enhancing knowledge and understanding of potential migrants, significant numbers of youth continue to the leave the country though irregular channels. Hence, one has to question the effectiveness of information campaigns and messages delivered. Having this in mind, the ILO assessed the impact of awareness raising campaigns at the country level. Findings from the study indicate the assumption that people choose irregular migration due to lack of information on the dangers associated with it. The study in fact indicates most aspiring migrants are fully aware of the dangers and hardship irregular migration entails, but they choose to migrate anyway. The information campaigns do not provide alternative livelihood possibilities hence making it difficult to draw the line between deterrence and awareness raising. Alternative knowledge about migration and stories of hope and success do the rounds in migrant support networks,given that such informationis disseminated by trusted family and community members as opposed to information campaigns discouraging irregular migration. Combatting root causes of migration can also be approached through social change built on norms and values. Information campaigns focus on fear appeal messages, showing drowning into seas, overcrowded trucks, miserable migrants or pictures of detention camps assumed to scare people enough to refrain from irregular migration. However, evidence shows that the influence of fear appeal messages on behavioural changes is quite modest.To enhance the effectiveness of awareness campaigns and bring change towards attitude and practice in combating irregular migration, awareness raising interventions have to consider points I raised earlier.
Capital: How can private investors help tackle illegal migration?
Aida Awel: It is important for the private sector to take a stronger stand to ensure ethical and fair practices, and do more to contribute its unique knowledge and expertise to help combat human trafficking and smuggling as well as support the effective economic reintegration of returnees and awareness raising even just within their workforce. Private sector can create decent job opportunities which in turn contribute to poverty alleviation, a major push factor of regular and irregular migration. ILO partners with private sectors to build the skills of youth and returnees and to provide them with decent jobs.
ILO collaborated with Eshururu Training Centre to train 400 migrant returnees as professional childcare service providers given the demand for the profession by middle class families living in Debre Birhan and Addis Ababa. Job placement is part of the support package where the childcare givers can be employed in households as well as become self-employed day-care service providers within institutions, colleges and factories. Also, recognizing that most women migrant workers have acquired skills in housekeeping, food preparation and domestic work while abroad, we have collaborated with the Ethiopian Women Entrepreneurs Association (EWEA) to provide comprehensive economic empowerment support to 3,000 returnees.
The track of capitalism
One of the simple dictionary meanings of capitalism is an economy based on private enterprise. It is also possible to simply define capitalism as the use of markets not planning to allocate economic resources. Based on factual evidences, capitalism is widely regarded as the economic system of the west. Before the collapse of the Berlin Wall and the subsequent disintegration of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, the Eastern world was highly considered as the “socialist economic block”.
The great majority of the world for long considered the American capitalism as the best, if not perfect, capitalism among the capitalist west. The American capitalism perceived as an economic system which reward best the one who is entrepreneurial, innovative and working hard. In the capitalist Europe, the story is also similar.
The recent economic crisis which devastated the United States and Europe has long lost its breaking news status. What is news then is the measures they are taking and its impact. The United States and Europe, though both are capitalists, they took different strategic measures to mitigate the multi-faceted impacts of the crisis and to lubricate the long stacked wheels of their respective economies.
To this effect, the United States picked an expansionist approach and pumped hundreds of billions of dollars in order to stimulate its contracted economy while Europe adopted a squeezing approach and took a long list of austerity measures.
The United States in its expansionist approach and economic stimulus measures bailed out a number of its giant business empires in which the world for long believed them as too-big-to fall and cut or limited the huge compensation pay schemes of the CEOs. Europe on the contrary in its very many austerity measures, in addition to social security and other public benefits, drastically and significantly cut both the work force and their salary.
Two years after taking its expansionist measures, the United States start picking its harvest. The contracted economy very slowly but steadily start moving forward and managed to create hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of more new jobs. Europe on the other hand is still very busy in its austerity measures tightening the people’s belt beyond its limit. By doing so what Europe is currently witnessing is not the fast increase of its terribly contracted economy, rather the number of angry people filled the streets in protest of their government’s austerity measures and committing suicide.
Evaluating their respective corrective measures, some economic analysts start comparing the capitalism in the United States and European Union particularly the much crisis affected euro zone area. With the euro zone up against the ropes, all signs are that the U.S. economy and economic model reign supreme. Sure it is. But the United States has its problems too, including a severe bout of long-term unemployment.
Remember all the talk much amplified by the mainstream media that Chief Executive Officer (CEO) talent is so rarefied that its price can only be measured in double-digit millions per annum? That audacious proposition, trumpeted confidently from media towers in New York City and London, used to be a core tenet of the United States -UK consensus on the global economy.
The evidence, meanwhile, is undeniable that plenty of that presumably extraordinary talent is imbued with many shortcomings. CEOs aren’t so superhuman after all. From launching failed corporate strategies, egregious errors of proper oversight, gross infidelities with staff, pumping up resumes in the style of blustery 19-year olds who really do not yet know better, the C-suite increasingly seems like a comedy of human failings.
On mid June 2012, Jamie Dimon, Chairman and Chief Executive of JP Morgan Bank has apologised for the bank’s losses of two billion dollar on high risk trades. He said the losses occurred because traders were poorly managed and did not understand what they were doing. Following his announcement of the obscene amount of lose, what followed was the outrageous comments of share holders and financial analyst in which wiggling their fingers towards the CEO and asked him what the hell he was doing and where the hell he has been while the company made such a huge lose.
To be sure, CEOs are put under great pressure. But these are tough times for most people working in large corporations. The difference is that certain “talent” has been indoctrinated since the days of business school that they are something special and, unlike the rest of the corporate workforce, certainly deserve something very special: namely, exorbitant compensation.
But on this front, the U.S.-UK alliance is finally cracking. Just as is the case in the field of banking, the “old country” is no longer prepared to toe the American line either on the uniqueness of the financial sector or the extraordinariness of executive talent. A long time in the making, there is finally solid pressure on restricting top executive pay in London. That is long overdue, all the more so as the political cultures of both countries, Britain and the United States, traditionally pride themselves of being such exemplary democracies.
Wherever their special democratic character can be found, it certainly is not in the corporate world. U.S. CEOs often reign supreme in a near-autocratic manner, imbued with multiple titles from Chairman to Chief Executive to President and all-encompassing powers. No separation of powers here whatsoever.
How about annual shareholder meetings? You must be kidding. As David Rivera in his book entitled “A history of the new world order” humorously stated that they are about as significant as rubber-stamp sessions in Soviet-style parliaments. Often lasting less than an hour, they are merely a perfunctory exercise so that the corporate secretary can tick off a box. “Annual meeting?” Done. Check. Any real debate at shareholder meetings about items that are essential to the future vitality of capitalism in democratic societies are, as much as possible, prevented. A vote about levels of executive pay? Motion denied. Not debated here.
As David Rivera further noted, the prevailing mindset is this: “You, Mr. or Mrs. Shareholder, give us your capital and we then set our pay. You ought to be grateful that I serve thee as chief executive. It’s your privilege, not mine.” And they call that “shareholder capitalism?” Shareholder Hostage Taking would be more appropriate.
Naom Chomsky, the noted American economic and social critic well explained, it’s no better when one looks at the role of boards of directors. Ever since the days of Enron, it’s been clear that these are important bodies that can and should prevent bad things from happening. But in the United States and Britain, they are still largely “friends and family” affairs, meaning they are packed with like-minded cronies, if not in fact the CEO’s own friends. The biggest battle over capitalism in the age of global democracy, quite irrespective of all the Occupy Movements, isn’t even over preventing disasters like the meltdown of Enron. Rather, it concerns a proper weighting of the competing interests at stake between corporations and society at large.
If corporations largely act in a vacuum, if there is no real control over them from society’s perspective, then things can become truly unhinged such as in the case of exorbitant executive pay. Reading most news reports about U.S. corporations in the newspapers one will find that it’s almost always about reducing staff size, reorganizing the corporate structure and the like. Optimizing corporate strategy for the future, working with employees to make the most of existing or future business opportunities? Such things happen all too rarely in the largely top-down American corporate model. With the media largely complicit since they are dependent as they are on corporate advertising dollars, corporations see any advances from society on issues such as executive pay and corporate strategy as untoward attempts to soil the heavenly domains of The Corporation.
Yet, the results are clear enough. The U.S. model of corporations, put in a global context, is better only in what it delivers to the insiders at the very top of the corporate hierarchy. For them, the corporate till is for the looting, provided the board has approved it. Compare that, for example, to large German corporations. Historically, Germany hasn’t been known as a bastion of democracy. And yet today it is and nowhere more so than in its boardrooms. In Germany, these august bodies are half filled with representatives of the workforce.
Little wonder then that they cast a much closer eye on corporate pay. In fact, the mere presence of company workers and unions representatives in the boardroom does much to prevent the more egregious, self-serving propositions from ever seeing the light of day which top executives, left to their own devices, might come up with. Whatever the “it” is, they realize it would never pass even the most basic smell test with the unions.
Nor does oversight in Europe end at the boardroom. Moves to reign in the C-suite are taking on steam in the European Parliament, which has increasingly become a reform engine for a more accountable capitalism globally. Just this month, the EU’s top financial services regulator, Commissioner Michel Barnier, launched initiatives to curb “morally indefensible” pay and to reduce the disparity between executive and ordinary work pay in Europe’s financial institutions.
The United States has not yet caught up with or caught on to these efforts. The very self-absorbed and self-referential debate or, worse, the lack of any true debate that has become the hallmark of U.S. corporations has done much to weaken the case for capitalism in democratic societies. If the practice of corporate power constantly exhibits core traits of the feudalist era, as it does in the US case, rather than pursuing a more open, democratic and enlightened model, then it goes to show that the rot currently afflicting many developed economies has a lot to do with other nations still following, even aping, many elements of the autocratic U.S. model.
The relevance of society at large in that model is about as significant as the role of finance was, at least until recently, in the made-in-America macroeconomic models that is, not at all. Both excel by their absence. In short, it is high time to push the U.S. corporate model from the pedestal on which it still stands. To a large degree, its elevated status is no longer a function of actual performance and what it delivers in a larger societal context, but just a result of the benefits it offers to the insiders at the top of the corporate pyramid.
