The Council of Ministers of Ethiopia, in its 29th regular session held today, discussed nine agenda items. They have endorsed seven bills and have decided to refer the other two to the House of Peoples’ Representatives for further review and approval.
At first, the council tackled the preliminary policy regarding public service and administration.
Public service and administrative bodies are essential in carrying out government directives, policies, and strategies, facilitating the state-building process.
The core of the proposed policy revolves around seven key principles. These principles encompass the establishment of a civil service that is both free and independent, the promotion of diversity and inclusivity, the facilitation of an efficient government structure, the creation of an effective framework for public service delivery, the development of competencies for public servants, the enhancement of services through a digital civil service, and the advancement of leadership and institutional capacity.
After careful consideration of this matter, the Council has unanimously approved the proposed policy with some additional suggestions.
Additionally, the Council considered the draft policy focused on enhancing the growth of micro, small, and medium enterprises. The proposed policy aims to improve the sector's significant economic impact by creating a conducive environment for the formation, development, and expansion of MSMEs, matching sector assistance with demand and capability, and encouraging the inclusive advancement of the sector through backing informal business endeavors.
Following discussions on the draft policy, the Council unanimously approved the bill to take effect with additional inputs.
Furthermore, the Council engaged in discussions regarding the draft regulation put forth to establish the structural framework, authorities, and responsibilities of the FDRE Environment Protection Authority.
The proposed regulation was submitted to the council in order to clearly define the powers, duties, and structure of the authority, allowing it to efficiently carry out its obligations, enforce and monitor existing environmental protection policies, laws, and regulations, and oversee Ethiopia's international environmental protection agreements.
Following deliberations on this draft regulation, the Council approved the bill to take effect with additional inputs from the date of its publication on the Negarit Gazette.
The fourth agenda that the Council deliberated on was the Ethiopian Standards Bill. The bill was submitted to the Council with the aim of guaranteeing that domestically produced, imported, and exported products, services, and processes meet high-quality standards that can be uniformly implemented nationwide, fostering a cohesive system among regulatory bodies, and promoting transparency and accountability in the standards framework.
Following discussions on this draft bill, the council unanimously agreed to refer it to the House of People’s Representatives for approval with additional inputs.
The primary objective of the Legal Meteorology System bill is to safeguard the well-being and security of both humans and animals. It achieves this by guaranteeing the precision of measurements and Meteorology measuring instruments utilized across different sectors, including trade, health, safety, and environmental protection. The primary objective of the Legal Meteorology System bill is to safeguard the well-being and security of both humans and animals. It achieves this by guaranteeing the precision of measurements and Meteorology measuring instruments utilized across different sectors, including trade, health, safety, and environmental protection.
After thorough discussion, the council unanimously agreed to forward the bill to the House of People’s Representatives for approval with additional inputs.
Moreover, the council deliberated upon and ratified a resolution pertaining to three draft regulations. Among these, the proposed draft regulation for the establishment of the Ethiopian Institute of Meteorology (EMI) has been put forward to facilitate its provision of services aligned with global technological advancements in meteorology calibration, scientific instruments, as well as to conduct research, consultancy, and training.
The draft regulation for the establishment of the Ethiopian National Accreditation Office (ENAO) is intended to bolster the Office’s capacity in a way that enables the implementation of a nationally recognized accreditation system that meets international standards. This system is aimed at facilitating both domestic and foreign trade, safeguarding the health and well-being of the community, and establishing a fair trading environment.
The draft regulation put forth for the re-establishment of the Ethiopian Conformity Assessment Enterprise (ECAE) aims to safeguard the well-being of the user community by ensuring that both domestically produced and imported products and services adhere to international standards and legal mandates through the utilization of inspection, certification, and testing laboratories.
Following deliberations on the three draft regulations, the council unanimously endorsed them to come into force with additional inputs, starting from the day of their publication in the Negarit Gazette.
Finally, the council deliberated on the proposed draft regulations outlining the structural organization, powers, and functions of the Refugees and Returnees Service (RRS). This draft regulation was formulated to ensure adequate protection for refugees and returnees, as well as to enable Ethiopia to fulfill its obligations in offering protection and assistance to refugees by effectively implementing the international and regional agreements it has endorsed.
After thorough deliberation, the Council unanimously approved the draft regulation, which will take effect with the additional inputs from the day of its publication in the Negarit Gazette.//