| dc.description.abstract | Regional integration took centre stage in the second half of the twentieth century making
the world much more integrated. Integration in Africa is basic for the continent’s
competitiveness as it offers a mechanism for diversifying international competitiveness.
Towards this end, free movement of labour was identified as a key obligation of the East
African Community (EAC) as the region endeavours to achieve its vision of deepening
and widening integration for the mutual benefit of all East Africans. Regionalism in East
Africa has been faced with a number of challenges arising from policy and structural
factors, low level of awareness on the provisions of the common market among the
citizenry of the region, restriction imposed by partner states and lack of comprehensive
information on the labour market in the respective partner states, factors that have
hampered the free movement of labour. This study employed qualitative and quantitative
methods of data collection and analysis and was to establish the extent to which the EAC
common market has enhanced the free movement of labour within the region, how policy
and structural factors has impacted on movement of labour and suitable methods of
sharing labour market information. The study sought to contribute to the existing body of
knowledge on the dynamics of regionalism and labour mobility and provide vital
information for use by policy makers, workers, employers and the general populace in the
East African Community. The study revealed that in spite of the EAC common market
having been in existence for the last four years, there is no tangible evidence that the
region in general and the partner states in particular have reaped the benefits of the free
movement of labour. The fact that the protocol only permits the free movement of highly
skilled workers and the slow pace of harmonizing the labour laws, challenges of
portability of social security benefits as well as the often prohibitive work permit fees
charged by some partner states act as limitations to the realization of the free movement
of labour. The situation tends to be worsened by low levels of awareness on the
requirements and benefits of the EAC common market protocol and the absence of labour
market information systems to facilitate the sharing of information on the labour market
which is itself key to the free movement of labour. The study recommends fast-tracking
of the review of labour laws, completion of the EAC manpower survey and raising the
level of awareness of the general populate on the benefits of the EAC integration in
efforts to increase the movement of labour and achievement of the aspirations of the
common market. | en_US |
