Scrapping work permit fees will ease movement of labour

Uganda and South Sudan have announced plans to scrap work permit fees for Rwandans and Kenyans living and working in these countries. Ugandan authorities said the new arrangement will start in January next year while for South Sudan it could be done earlier. The two countries join Rwanda which scrapped the work permit fees four years ago. This and other initiatives are aimed at improving the business climate in the region and easing the movement of labour and goods. The work permit charges which are some of the remaining Non-Tariff Barriers are an impediment to doing business and are against the East Africa Community spirit of free movement of labour and services across the region. NTBs are seen as the major bottle neck to the integration process and timely delivery of goods and services across borders of member states.Other EAC countries which are still reluctant as far as waiving work permit fees is concerned should follow suit and help promote greater regional trade and development. East Africans living and working in Rwanda do not pay work permit fees. Rwandans working in Kenya do not pay the charges too.Scrapping the fees in all member states will ease movement of labour and cross-border trade in the region. It will lead to efficiency as each country has greater chances of attracting skilled labour force, investments and regional trade. This development coincided with the launch of the single customs territory, a milestone in the economic development of the region, especially for countries that share the Northern Corridor trade route. The launch, on Monday, re-affirmed the concerted efforts toward moving the East African Community into a robust economic bloc.

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Scrapping work permit fees will ease movement of labour