The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) has strongly condemned the reintroduction of work permits for East African Community (EAC) workers wishing to work in Kenya.The document was earlier suspended by President Mwai Kibaki in his tenure to allow workers from Uganda and Rwanda to work without paying fees.Kenya joins Tanzania that has maintained work permit requirements for the regional neighbours.Cotu Secretary General Francis Atwoli has warned that the move will derail free movement of labour as enshrined in the Common Market Protocol.
“The decision by the Kenya Government to introduce work permit requirements for all foreigners from East Africa Community countries and outside the region as well as issue deterrent legal measures to those found engaging aliens without requisite documents is a huge blow to the region’s integration process, particularly to the Common Market Protocol,” he said.
“For Kenya to realise the elusive economic boom from both external direct and indirect investment, we must promote our sub-regional trade by opening up our borders and allowing our nationals to use their national identification cards as travel documents,” said Atwoli in a statement.
“If these politicians have their own personal differences owing to their individual interests and egoism, which do not conform with the need and aspirations of the people of East Africa, it shouldn’t drive our nation into slamming visas to Tanzanians who are entering Kenya or vice versa because most of these movements are for business purposes,” he said.