Employers, workers push for EAC work permits processing within 30 days

Politics and policy

 

Outgoing Council of Governors chairman Isaac Ruto at a past Press briefing. FILE PHOTO | MACHARIA MWANGI 

By ROSE WANJIRU

By KIARIE NJOROGE

In Summary

• Isaac Kiema, the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) co-ordinator of projects, said applying for a work permit should be centralised into a Huduma Centre-style one-stop shop.

East African workers and employers want work permits within the East Africa Community (EAC) to be processed within 30 days with preference given to residents.

This is one of the recommendations forwarded to the EAC with the aim of creating more mobility for workers.

“If the processing time goes beyond 30 days for EAC citizens, the permits should be granted automatically,” says one of the proposals.

The resolutions by the East African Trade Union Confederation and the East African Employers Organisation target free movement in the next seven years.

Isaac Kiema, the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) co-ordinator of projects, said applying for a work permit should be centralised into a Huduma Centre-style one-stop shop.

FKE chief executive Jacqueline Mugo said some EAC countries have made strides especially in abolishing work permit fees for the region’s professionals.

Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda have abolished the fees. The other member countries are Burundi and Tanzania.

“No country can grow economically or socially if there’s no free movement of labour,” she said. “The human aspect is very important if EAC is to realise her full potential as envisaged. We cannot as a region attract investments if we cannot allow free movement of labour.”

The cost of a permit in Tanzania ranges between Sh525 and Sh262,500 ($6 and $3,000). In Burundi, it ranges from Sh5,250 and Sh7,350 ($60 and $84). There are indications that the countries may remove the fees towards the end of the year.

The East African Common Market Protocol which was ratified in 2010 provides for free movement of workers but the governments have retained the permits on policy, health and security concerns.

“Ensuring effective freedom of movement for workers gives consistency and meaning to EAC citizenship,” said the regional trade union.