Ethiopian Airlines Under Scrutiny Over Allegations of Discriminatory Recruitment Practices

ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA – May 6, 2025 Ethiopian Airlines, the flag carrier of Ethiopia, is facing mounting scrutiny following allegations of discriminatory recruitment practices. Human Rights First Ethiopia, a local civil society organization, has accused the airline of “deep bias” in its recent hiring process, specifically alleging the exclusion of qualified graduates from universities and polytechnic institutions in the Tigray, Southern Ethiopia, and South West Ethiopia regions.

Details of the Allegations:

According to a statement released by Human Rights First Ethiopia last week, a recent job announcement by Ethiopian Airlines for certified automotive and engineering professionals listed designated application centers that were limited to institutions in the Central, Western, Eastern, North-Western, and Southern parts of Ethiopia. This geographical limitation effectively excluded graduates from seven government-funded universities located in the aforementioned regions, including prominent institutions such as Mekelle, Adigrat, Aksum, and Wolaita Sodo universities.

The CSO argues that this selective approach systematically denies young people from these regions a fair opportunity to apply for jobs, creating an uneven playing field that violates the principles of equality enshrined in Ethiopia’s constitution and international human rights conventions to which¹ Ethiopia is a signatory. They contend that such practices exacerbate regional socio-economic marginalization and undermine post-war rehabilitation efforts, particularly in the Tigray region.

Ethiopian Airlines’ Rebuttal:

In a written response to The Reporter Ethiopia, the Ethiopian Airlines Group vehemently denied the allegations, stating that it has consistently recruited and hired employees from all regions of the country for decades without any bias. The airline asserted that “no targeted or discriminatory recruitment procedures were followed” in their recent vacancy announcement.

The airline’s corporate communications office explained that logistical constraints sometimes make it impossible to conduct recruitment in all regions simultaneously. However, they maintain that their history demonstrates a commitment to reaching every corner of the country in an orderly manner, ensuring equal job opportunities for youth across Ethiopia, and that their recruitment system is “genuinely inclusive.” They dismissed the circulating claims as “far from the truth.”

Calls for Independent Investigation:

Human Rights First Ethiopia has called upon the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission and the Office of the Ombudsman to launch independent investigations into these allegations and to publicly release their findings. The organization has also urged the Ministries of Justice and Labor to ensure that all government-owned development enterprises, including Ethiopian Airlines, comply with their legal obligations to prevent discrimination in recruitment practices.

Broader Implications for Labor Practices in Ethiopia’s Aviation Sector:

This controversy raises significant concerns about labor practices within Ethiopia’s crucial aviation sector. Ethiopian Airlines, as a state-owned enterprise and a major employer, is expected to uphold the highest standards of fairness and non-discrimination in its recruitment processes.

If the allegations are substantiated, it could point to systemic biases within the airline’s hiring policies and potentially reflect broader challenges in ensuring equitable employment opportunities across Ethiopia’s diverse regions. This situation underscores the importance of robust oversight mechanisms and the need for all large organizations, particularly state-affiliated ones, to adhere strictly to constitutional and international human rights principles regarding equal opportunity and non-discrimination in the workplace.

The outcome of any potential investigation by the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission and the Office of the Ombudsman will be closely watched by civil society organizations, human rights advocates, and the broader public, as it could have significant implications for labor practices and regional equity within Ethiopia’s rapidly growing aviation industry.