EAC, IOM to establish regional consultative migration process
The East African Community (EAC) secretariat, in collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), is mulling the establishment of the EAC Regional Consultative Process on Migration (RCP).
They are expected to hold a three-day meeting on the matter from February 14 to February 16, 2022, in Kigali, Rwanda.
The meeting will look at migration and governance experiences in the region and around the world, with a focus on the session of senior officials on February 14, 2022, and the Ministerial Session on February 16, 2022.
The EAC Deputy Secretary-General in charge of Productive and Social Sectors, Christophe Bazivamo, said the three-day meeting would be attended by Ministers of East African Community Affairs in the partner states, Ministers for Interior and Home Affairs, and Labour.
The meeting will also attract the Directorates of Immigration and the African Union Commission (AUC) representatives, as well as the IOM Regional Director.
Christophe said the EAC RCP would create opportunities for the EAC partner states once established in order to mobilise resources to expedite the implementation of EAC Migration governance.
The governance will include harmonisation of migration policies, capacity building initiatives, and research on migration concepts so as to achieve safe, regular and humane migration management.
“RCP will address migration holistically and build effective consultation networks on migration governance and policy frameworks that promote migration and development,” Bazivamo stated.
EAC Treaty
The Treaty for Establishment of the East African Community, Article 130, allows partner states to cooperate with other regional and international organisations with the same objectives.
On August 7, 1996, the fifth meeting of the Tripartite Commission established a commission to guide the movement of persons, labour, services, right establishment and residence and envisioned in the East African Co-operation Development Strategy (1997-2000).
The EAC Council of ministers established a forum of ministers of labour and employment and the chiefs of immigration to operate in the sector.
Labour mobility
In November 2021, the East African Community (EAC) and the East African Trade Union Confederation (EATUC) agreed to resolve issues related to labour mobility and employment in the region.
This came after a meeting held in Arusha, Tanzania, to strengthen labour, employment, and migration in the region. Its policy would entail the implementation of a joint programme to exchange young labourers among partner states so that labour mobility would be a problem solved.
Dr Peter Mathuki, the EAC Secretary-General appealed to the EATUC to expedite the finalisation and implementation of the draft EAC Labour Migration Policy.
“Once finalised, the policy will guide laws, policies, and regulations on labour migration within and outside the region,” said Dr Mathuki.
The meeting of the directors in charge of labour was scheduled for February 2022 to examine the draft policy for adoption by the EAC Council of Ministers.
“We urge EATUC to also contribute to fast-tracking the finalisation and operationalisation of the Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRA) for professionals to move freely within the region,” he added.
Peter Werikhe, EATUC Chairperson, said the Council of Ministers on Labour and Migration should be formed, so as to encourage frequent meetings to tackle labour, employment and migration issues.
