Promoting care at work
ILO-supported daycare transforms lives of working mothers in Addis Ababa
An ILO effort to promote decent work and gender-inclusive workplaces, with the support of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, allowed Woinshet to return to work, ensuring financial stability for her family while providing a safe and nurturing environment for her child.
26 March 2025
ILO News (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia) – For Woinshet Sime, a dedicated worker at Yirgalem Addis Textile Factory, balancing motherhood and employment was once an overwhelming challenge. After six years of operating machinery at the factory, her life took a drastic turn when she gave birth to her first child in 2024. With no one available to care for her baby, she was forced to leave her job, plunging her family into financial uncertainty and emotional distress.
“Staying at home without a job was very challenging for me,” Woinshet recalled. “I was under financial pressure and emotional stress. It was difficult to fulfil necessities for my baby. Without a job and regular income, buying baby formula, diapers, and food was nearly impossible. My husband’s income alone was not enough.”
However, relief came in the form of an ILO-supported daycare centre, funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, established within the factory where she worked. The facility, part of a broader effort to promote decent work and gender-inclusive workplaces, allowed Woinshet to return to work, ensuring financial stability for her family while providing a safe and nurturing environment for her child.
“When I heard about the daycare, I was happy because I knew I could return to my job,” she said. “Now, my baby stays at the centre, and I can visit him and even breastfeed him during the day. This gives me peace of mind, knowing he is safe within the factory compound.”
The daycare is staffed with trained childcare workers who provide attentive care, ensuring that children are fed, cleaned, and engaged in activities that promote their development. For Woinshet, the positive impact on her child is evident. “My baby used to be shy and only comfortable with me, but now he plays with others and is becoming more active.”
The ILO’s support for workplace childcare is part of a global effort to empower women in the workforce, addressing one of the key barriers that keep women outside of the labour force. By providing accessible childcare, the initiative helps retain skilled workers, promotes financial independence, and fosters a more inclusive labour market.
Beyond Woinshet’s experience, many other working mothers at Yirgalem Addis Textile Factory have benefited from the daycare.
“Without this facility, many of us would have had to quit our jobs. Now, we can work with peace of mind, knowing our children are well cared for,” shared Woinshet.
Factory owner Ms. Yirgalem also highlighted the benefits of having the daycare centre, particularly in terms of retaining experienced workers.
“Before the daycare was established, we were losing skilled workers because they had no choice but to leave their jobs to take care of their children. Now, our employees can continue working without interruption, which not only benefits them but also strengthens our factory by maintaining a stable and experienced workforce.”
By introducing this facility, the ILO and Yirgalem Addis Textile Factory, with the support of the ILO, has set an example of how workplace care policies and services can empower women, promote gender equality, and enhance worker retention. For Woinshet and many others, the daycare is not just a convenience—it is a transformative resource enabling them to thrive as both workers and mothers.
According to ILO research conducted in 12 garment factories in Ethiopia, nearly half of workers reported that between one and ten employees in their factory had resigned due to pregnancy or childcare responsibilities. Most of the factories in the study (8 out of 12) did not provide workplace childcare services, leading to higher rates of absenteeism. Workers in these factories were more likely to take sick leave to deal with family responsibilities compared to those in factories with childcare services. To address this challenge, the ILO project “Promoting Workers’ Rights and Gender Equality in Africa,” funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, established childcare centres at two garment factories and provided furniture at a third. This initiative has helped mothers return to work and enabled factories to retain talent while promoting family-friendly workplaces.
The ILO project “Promoting Workers’ Rights and Gender Equality in Africa – Phase II,” funded by NORAD, is continuing to promoting a well-functioning and robust care economy that fosters gender equality and decent work and addresses discrimination at its roots to support workers with family responsibilities and women in Ethiopia.