
Disclaimer: This is an English translation of an Amharic article taken from DW Amharic and is intended solely for information purposes.
DW Amharic - Workers in Menz Lalo Midir Woreda say “it has been 4 months since we last received salaries”
Alemnew Mekonnen
January 20, 2025
Teachers and other workers in Menz Lalo Midir Woreda of North Shewa Zone in Amhara Region say “we haven’t received salaries for 4 months which has caused us to face severe economic problems.” The woreda government communications affairs office confirmed the issue. The woreda administrator was unwilling to provide comment.
Workers in Menz Lalo Midir Woreda say “it has been 4 months since we last received salaries”
Teachers and other workers in Menz Lalo Midir Woreda of North Shewa Zone in Amhara Region say “we haven’t received salaries for 4 months which has caused us to face severe economic problems”, the woreda government communications affairs office confirmed the issue but the woreda administrator was unwilling to provide comment and hung up their phone when we raised questions on the matter.
Government workers face hardship after salaries stop
One source who said they were a woreda government worker said their salaries have stopped since Tikimit 2017 EC (spans October 11th to November 9th, 2024). It has been over one year since the woreda came under full control of Fano militants however they had continued receiving salaries through bank payments from the region up until Meskerem 2017 EC (September 11th to October 10th, 2024) after which it became suspended for unknown reasons since Tikimit 2017 EC.
Workers say “we have begun going out to beg”
One teacher who said it is difficult to make a living, described the severity of the problem saying they have begun going out to beg, and said they had been working in government offices up until recently however they had all stopped due to the current problem.
Local residents have been unable to reach health centers to treat patients which has caused some to lose their lives say sources who added it has not been possible to bring medicine into the woreda due to security and road problems. Many workers have been daily labor says the source, while others who have been unable to work received support from the community. They said their efforts to contact various actors for solutions to the problem have been unsuccessful.
Over 1,300 government workers in the woreda have not received salaries for 4 months
The Menz Lalo Midir Communications Affairs Office Head Ato Minda Gebeyehu confirmed the problem and said over 1,300 government workers faced this problem in the woreda. Many officials including the woreda administrator have left the woreda which has left workers without anyone to help them in the area says Ato Minda.
He said “children do not have milk, parents are unable to farm.” Workers with physical strength and experience have taken to gathering harvests however lack of work has left thousands of students dispersed, and over 700 teachers and 1,300 workers have been left without salaries for over 4 months.

The North Shewa Zone teachers association said they “do not know who stopped salary payments”
The North Shewa Zone Amhara Region teachers association head Ato Chirotaw Kassaye said he was unaware of who stopped the salary payments or why but said, “we will work to ensure teachers receive their salaries.”
We attempted to contact Menz Lalo Midir Woreda administrator Ato Haile Engidaw for further comment on the matter however after we raised the issue to him he hung up the phone and did not answer further attempts to reach him.
Alemnew Mekonnen
Azeb Tadesse
Mantegaftot Sileshi
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