Towards safer recruitment of Ethiopian women into domestic work abroad: Early findings from the Meneshachin ‘Our Departure’ qualitative study

This report presents preliminary findings from the first phase of data collection of the Meneshachin ‘Our Departure’ qualitative study conducted by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in collaboration with the Population Council in Ethiopia and the Freedom Fund, with support and funding from the U.S. Department of State. The study aims to inform the development of feasible, responsible recruitment measures that could reduce the risk of labor exploitation and trafficking experienced by Ethiopian migrant women seeking domestic work abroad. The research focuses on the role of different actors in arranging Ethiopian women’s migration to the Middle East and Gulf States for the purpose of domestic labor, and how these actors’ activities exacerbate or mitigate risk of harm. The report concludes with a discussion of challenges and opportunities to promote safer recruitment practices throughout the migration cycle