Ethiopia: Leave Pay and Severance Entitlements

A case-based interpretation of severance and separation payments in Ethiopia

Recently, an employer of employees based in Ethiopia asked our Praxima team: When do severance and related payments apply?

Applicability of Severance Pay

Severance pay is applicable where an employee has completed probation and is not eligible for pension, including circumstances such as:

  • Termination due to cessation of operations
  • Employer-initiated termination in violation of the law
  • Workforce reduction
  • Resignation due to harassment, safety concerns, or employer misconduct
  • Termination due to disability
  • Resignation under specific qualifying conditions, including health-related grounds
Severance pay is applicable where an employee has completed probation and is not eligible for pension.

Calculation Methodology

The Labour Proclamation provides the following framework:

  • 1 year of service: 30 days’ wages
  • More than 1 year: 30 days + 10 days per additional year (capped at 12 months’ wages)
  • Less than 1 year: Pro-rata calculation
  • Workforce reduction: 60 days’ wages

These calculations are based on the average daily wage of the last week of service.

𝘐𝘧 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘺𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘺𝘦𝘦𝘴, 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵.

Go Deeper on This Topic

If this article raised questions or highlighted areas you’d like to understand better, let’s talk.Our team can walk through the details, implications, and practical considerations for your business.

Deoné Ferreira
Tax Manager, Praxima