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EAC protocol on labour in the offing

Saturday May 02 2015
teaDanKidega

According to Fred Kidega, Speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly, free movement of persons, labour, goods, services and capital in the region is long overdue. PHOTO | FILE

A protocol that will allow East Africans working in various sectors to offer their services in any country in the region is in sight.

The EAC member states have agreed to amend the Common Market protocol to enable free movement of professionals in accounting, legal and architectural services, communication, distribution, education, financial, tourism and travel related services and transport services by the end of 2015, with no permit requirement.

According to Peter Kiguta, the Director General of Customs and Trade at the EAC Secretariat, the Council of Ministers is awaiting the final list of services that will meet the interests of all member states.

“The Council of Ministers is preparing a final proposal, paving the way for a Bill; this separation will enhance free movement of services across the region,” said Mr Kiguta.  

The changes will consider short-time jobs that require an EAC member citizen to move into another member state for a short time to offer a service and then back to the country of origin without a requirement to set up an office. 

The decision is in line with the ongoing implementation of the free movement system under the East African Community Common Market Protocol that was signed in 2009 by then presidents Yoweri Museveni (Uganda), Mwai Kibaki (Kenya), Jakaya Kikwete (Tanzania), Paul Kagame (Rwanda) and Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi. It entered into force on July 1 2010, following ratification by the five partner states but free movement of labour and services remains a contentious issue.

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Although in September last year, East African professional bodies signed agreements allowing the movement of select professionals such as engineers, accountants and architects in any of the five countries, this has not commenced.

READ: Uganda to abolish work permit fees for Kenya, Rwanda citizens

According to Fred Kidega, Speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly, free movement of persons, labour, goods, services and capital in the region is long overdue. 

“A lot was expected following the entry of the Common Market Protocol in July 2010, the outcome in terms of implementation has not lived up to our expectations. We, as an Assembly, are hoping that the protocol shall be fully enforced”, Mr Kidega said.

The amendment plan comes at a time the EAC member states have had to solve disputes related to trade and tourism, the latest involving Kenya and Tanzania. 

Construction of the Regional Rusumo Falls Hydroelectric Project power plant and its associated transmission lines, which was slated to start in the first quarter of 2015, with commissioning of the first power unit expected in December 2018, was delayed because the engineers could not access the Tanzanian side without work permits.

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