The Refugees Proclamation recognizes the right of refugees to practice liberal professions and their successful integration into Ethiopian professional labor markets. According to article 26(3) of the Proclamation, every recognized refugee who has academic credentials authenticated by the competent government authority, and who desires to practice his profession, may be accorded the most favorable treatment accorded to foreign nationals in areas permitted to foreign nationals. The Refugees Proclamation accords refugees’ treatment beyond the minimum requirements provided in the 1951 Refugee Convention to practice liberal profession by giving the most favorable treatment to foreign nationals in areas permitted to foreign nationals. 

The concept of liberal professions is not defined in Ethiopian law. Moreover, Ethiopian law does not provide a list of professions, which fall within the ambit of liberal professions. The legal framework applicable to the regulation of liberal professions in Ethiopia is piecemeal as opposed to consolidated. Consequently, liberal professions in Ethiopia are subject to specific professional regulations to the respective professions.

Ethiopian legislations allows a foreigner to be employed in Ethiopia. As stated under article 176 of the Labor Proclamation No. 1156/2019 and the Revised Directive on the Issuance of Work Permits for Expatriates in Ethiopia 2019 (Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs), foreigners would be employed in Ethiopia on condition that they acquire work permit. Hence, engagement in most forms of liberal professions in Ethiopia requires work permit. The works permits issued are a closed type where it is issued only when the foreign national has a job offer. Furthermore, as per the Directive a work permit is given for a foreign employee in a specific type of work for three years and must be renewed every year, on condition that the employer justifies each year that there is no Ethiopian who could take the role.

Foreign Nationals of Ethiopian Origin (FNEO) are the most favored foreign nationals in Ethiopia who are eligible to be employed on equal footing with Ethiopian nationals with few exceptions. Article 5(2) of the Proclamation Providing Foreign Nationals of Ethiopian Origin with Certain Rights to be exercised in their Country of Origin, Proclamation No. 270/2002 (FNEO Proclamation) provides that FNEO have the right to be employed in Ethiopia without a work permit. Hence, since the most favorable nationals in Ethiopia are FNEO, refugees should ideally be entitled to engage in liberal professions on the basis of the expansive interpretation.