The issue of free movement of persons and labour across the East African region has been mooted several times and has indeed been the subject of discussion at many regional fora. Yet it remains perhaps the thorniest issue for member states of the East Africa Community – Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi.
On paper, all the five EAC countries claim to be committed to the free movement of persons and labour in the community. However at the various discussions on the issue, it is apparent that getting the countries to agree on the free movement of persons is not going to be easy.
Rwanda and Kenya have already moved to implement the free movement of labour in a reciprocal arrangement between the two countries while the Uganda is in agreement on paper even though public sentiments in the country seem doubtful.
In Issue 044, The Independent ran a story – “The Job Market: Uganda Faces Influx of Foreigners†which showed increased apprehensions that many companies, especially with Kenyan roots are employing many Kenyans even in jobs that should be held by locals.
Tanzania on the other hand is the most reluctant. Already, there are signs that Tanzania is not comfortable with several aspects of the protocol. For example they suggest that a provision be incorporated in the protocol to specify when such freedoms can be enjoyed, denied or withdrawn “including possession of a valid travel document, entry through an official entry point and proof of sufficient means of support in the case of tourism or self-employment.â€
The draft protocol on free movement of labour across East Africa is, apparently, modelled around the common market protocol for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Caribbean Community and Common Market — the two economic groups that allow citizens of member states to travel freely within the regional blocs.
The experience of West Africa and the Caribbean will therefore largely inform East Africa’s march towards free movement across national boundaries. Regional bureaucrats would therefore benefit from show casing any successes from ECOWAS and the Caribbean to allay national fears of “foreign†influx.
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