Many female waitresses working in hotels, nightclubs, and similar service establishments across Ethiopia, including Addis Ababa, are bitterly complaining about the severe psychological distress and human rights violations they face in their workplaces.
These employees state that, particularly after 6:00 PM (local time), managers and owners force female staff to wear revealing or extremely short clothing, claiming it is to attract customers and boost business.
It has become common to hear these employees complain that those who refuse this order face pressure and threats, including termination. They express that they struggle daily to defend their freedom and rights in the workplace.
To address this issue of revealing attire in the hospitality sector—which has also been a major topic of discussion on social media—the Addis Ababa Culture, Arts, and Tourism Bureau issued the Uniform Dress Code and Implementation Directive No. 178/2024 (2016 E.C.).
This directive prohibits staff from wearing clothing that deviates from cultural norms and decency. Furthermore, it restricts visible tattoos, male ear piercings, and the excessive use of perfume.
The regulation imposes strict penalties on establishments that fail to comply and do not correct their employees' attire: starting with a written warning, followed by a fine of up to 50,000 Birr, and culminating in the sealing of the establishment and revocation of business licenses if no corrective measures are taken.
However, even though this strict directive has been officially issued and implementation has begun, the coercion of female waitresses has not been completely stopped.
The Ethiopian Hospitality Professionals Association has reported that although some improvements have been seen since the directive was issued, some hotel managers continue to force female staff to wear short clothing, arguing that "it is already late at night, so what is the problem?"
The reason cited for this is the dissolution of the previous regulatory structures that existed at the district (woreda) and sub-city levels. Currently, there is no body on the ground to monitor and enforce the directive, which has opened the door for establishments to violate the law and mistreat employees without fear.
Consequently, it has been suggested that the Addis Ababa Tourism Commission should form a coordinated task force with the city’s law enforcement authority to conduct surprise inspections, especially at night, and to take the measures specified in the directive, such as the 50,000 Birr fine and the sealing of hotels, against managers and establishments that violate the law.
Additionally, it was pointed out that a toll-free hotline should be set up for female waitresses to report the abuse they face without fear, and that protection should be provided so they can make their voices heard directly to the government.
Finally, experts in the sector noted that professionals should strengthen themselves under their association to collectively defend their rights. Furthermore, it was suggested that the public and customers should fulfill their social responsibility by choosing service venues based solely on the quality of service, and by withholding patronage from hotels that use women as "bait" to attract customers.
