FREDRICK NJEHU
Monday, 6 September 2010
The four freedoms granted (labor, capital, goods and services) have been regarded as pivotal to economic, social and ultimate political integration of the East African region.
In the minds of East Africans, we are likely to see an increase of cross-border trade in sectors where each partner state has a comparative edge. Labor movement is likely to be the major market access tool in the era of common market. The reason for picking the labor services is obviously due to the fact that, previously under the customs union, trade in goods was given much preference in the regional trade and investments.
Interestingly, there might be scenarios of both of job destruction and job creation in the EAC common market that could illustrate how different EAC countries characteristics, including labor market policies, can affect temporary or permanent employment effects at sectoral or country level. First, this will be driven by visa requirements which are critical labor is to move swiftly across the EAC borders.
World Development report 2009 shows that Uganda has the best case in the EAC who does not require any visas from any | More » |
