The State of Collective Bargaining in the Textile and Garment Sector of Oromia Regional State: Analysis of Legal Frameworks and Best Practices

Collective bargaining (CB) plays a critical role in fostering industrial peace, ensuring social justice, and regulating labor-management relations. In Ethiopia, the textile and garment industry represents a strategic sector for foreign direct investment, employment creation, and export-led economic growth. However, industrial relations in the sector remain vulnerable to structural power imbalances, workplace authoritarianism, and legal-institutional constraints. Drawing on empirical data collected from eleven undertakings, government offices, trade unions, and employers' associations across Oromia Regional State, this study examines the extent, legal frameworks, and operational dynamics of collective bargaining. By analyzing eight representative model enterprises, the study identifies 'above-law' baseline practices across wages, medical benefits, working hours, leave entitlements, and gender protections. It further investigates enabling factors that foster successful negotiations and outlines systemic gaps within national labor legislation and public enforcement mechanisms. Finally, policy recommendations are proposed to align domestic practice with international labor standards, build organizational technical capacity, and scale good collective bargaining practices.