Free movement of persons, labour and trade sector performance in East Africa
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Date
2016-10
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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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