Pay and rights · 4 min read
Notice period in Ethiopia: resignation and dismissal, with what you're owed at the end
You give 30 days' notice to resign. Your employer gives one to three months, by length of service. Final pay is due within seven working days. Here's how it works.
To resign in Ethiopia, you give your employer 30 days' written notice, once you've finished probation. If your employer ends your contract with notice, it gives you one month, two months or three months, based on your service. That's Articles 31, 34 and 35 of Labour Proclamation 1156/2019. Wages and other termination payments are due within seven working days.
Notice your employer gives you
Article 35 sets these periods for termination with notice. If your contract is for a definite period or piece of work, the notice is what you agreed.
Finished probation, up to 1 year of service: 1 month Over 1 year and up to 9 years: 2 months Over 9 years: 3 months Redundancy, after probation: 2 months
How notice has to be given
- It's in writing, with the reasons and the date it takes effect (Article 34)
- Your employer delivers it to you in person. If you can't be found or refuse it, it goes on the workplace notice board for 10 days in a row (Article 34)
- Notice given while your contract is suspended under Article 17 is void (Article 34)
- The period starts on the first working day after notice is given (Article 35)
- Both sides keep their duties during the notice period (Article 35)
If you're resigning
Give 30 days' notice (Article 31). Hand it to your employer or its representative, or to its registry office, and ask for a stamped copy (Article 34). Both sides keep their duties during the notice (Article 35).
You can leave without notice in the serious cases in Article 32, such as an act against your dignity, sexual harassment or violence by your employer or a manager, or danger to your safety your employer fails to act on. You have 15 working days from the date of the act to use that right. Our severance guide covers what you can claim.
What you're owed at the end
- Wages and other termination payments, within seven working days (Article 36)
- If you dispute the amount, your employer still has to pay what it accepts within that time (Article 37)
- Pay for annual leave you didn't take (Article 77)
- A free certificate of your work, service and wage (Article 12)
- Severance or compensation, if you qualify. Our severance guide has the rules
If your employer pays late without good reason, the court's labour division can order a penalty of up to three months' wage (Article 38).
Time limits
- A claim to be reinstated: three months from the end of the contract (Article 163)
- A claim for a payment from termination: six months from the end of the contract (Article 163)
Keep the notice, your last payslip and your contract. Don't wait for the last week to act.
Who these rules don't cover
The Labour Proclamation doesn't apply to managerial employees, personal service contracts, the armed forces, the police, state administration staff, judges and prosecutors, or people working for themselves (Article 3). This page explains the law, and it isn't legal advice.
Sources and further reading
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Frequently asked questions
How much notice do I give to resign in Ethiopia?
30 days, once you've completed probation. During probation you can leave without notice.
How much notice does my employer give?
1 month if your service is up to 1 year, 2 months up to 9 years, and 3 months over 9 years. It's 2 months for redundancy.
When will I get my final pay?
Within seven working days of the date your contract ends, under Article 36.
Does a notice have to be in writing?
Yes. Article 34 says it has to be in writing and give the reasons and the date.