Free movement of persons, labour and trade sector performance in East Africa

Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Date
2016-10
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kampala International University.College Of Humanities and social science
Abstract
This study addresses the efficacy of the Common Market Protocol (CMP) of East African Community (EAC) with regard to implementation and or domestication of free movement of persons and labour/workers in relation to trade sector performance in East Africa. The major postulation is that a liberalized/free cross border movement system of people affects trade; taking Uganda as the case study. It focuses on assessing implementation of selected aspects of the protocol entailing rights, freedoms and fundamentals, supported by selected provisions of EAC Treaty responsible for promoting the free movement principle in EAC; which once implemented will significantly boost great regional investment in terms of trade and competitiveness to propel economic growth and development. The study addresses the key findings in addressing the research objectives: Benefits of free movement of persons and labour to Uganda; implementation and or domestication of the CMP on free movement of persons and labour in EAC; the study also assesses challenges faced by EAC in implementation of free movement of persons and labour. The study is guided by the Neoclassical Economic Theory by Ernest Ravenstein (1889). Most outstanding conclusions to the study include: The EAC pat1ner states' need to adopt national comprehensive programs to harmonize their laws to ensure effective implementation in every area of the CMP; Council should undertake an institutional review of a Community aimed at revamping and empowering the organs and institutions of the Community to monitor and deal with informal /illegal trade from crisscrossing border points, past formally recognized trade. This means putting organs and institutions in place by all regional players in order to avoid the escalation of the problem spreading to its partners; the problem of inadequate funding towards the deliberations of EAC requires a need to improve the situation by amending Article 132 (4) of the EAC treaty to a formulae based method that takes into account equity and ability to pay. The study relied on desk research into the existing literature and public records; Key Informant Interviews (Klls) were also carried out with law/policymakers/policy implementers in relevant Ministries in Uganda, whose work is in tandem with EAC deliberations.
Description
Dissertation submitted to the college of higher degrees and research in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the a ward of a masters degree in international relations and diplomatic studies of Kampala International University Uganda
Keywords
Free movement, Persons, Labour, Trade sector, Performance, East Africa
Citation