The Causes of Women Migration from Ethiopia to the Gulf Countries

Abstract

Women migrant workers constitute the highest foreign workforces in the Gulf countries. Among these workforces, Ethiopian domestic workers encompass the highest number. According to the data from the Ministry of labor and social affairs, around 180,000 Ethiopians have legally migrated as domestic workers to the Gulf countries each year. The objective of this article is, therefore, to investigate the driving factors of women’s migration to the Gulf countries. To this end, the study has employed a qualitative research approach. To realize the objective of the study, relevant books, journal articles, magazines, policy documents, and research works were consulted as the principal sources of secondary data. Through critically reviewing the existing literature on women’s migration, the finding of this study indicates that previously underemphasized causes; such as discriminatory gender norms, the migration policy of the home and host states, gender-specific domestic work, and the intersection of multiple identities; are also the main driving factors of women migration to the Gulf countries. Finally, to reduce women’s migration to the Gulf countries, the study has suggested the following policy recommendations: creating job opportunities for women, launching national awareness creation programs about the impacts of illegal migration, adjusting migration policy based on recent changes, reducing gender discrimination, providing financial assistance to restore and rebuild the wellbeing of the returnees, and working with neighbouring countries to control illegal migration.