Kenya More freedom of movement of persons in the East African Community
The East African Community (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ruanda, Burundi and South Sudan) is moving forward to more integration. This process of creating a joint common market as well includes free movement of persons and workers. In this area, it is foreseen to move slowly to full free movement. This process of change started in 2009 with prudent steps for free mobility for a limited number of occupations.
The East African trade union (EATUC) and employers organisations (EAEO) now jointly undertook steps with the legislative Assembly of the East African Community (EAC), to insist on faster and more deliberate action in this field. Both social partners jointly insisted on a faster pace for free movement, less barriers such as costly and lengthy work and residence permits and accompanying measures in social security and labour law to facilitate free movement.
DECP and FNV sponsored the research paper underpinning the joint position paper which was presented to the Speaker of the EAC legislative assembly in Nairobi on December12th 2016. The Speaker welcomed the joint intervention of the social partners and confirmed the need to work faster to respect the pace of progress as provided for in the Common market Protocol.