Cross border workers between Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya will no longer have to acquire working permits, as the East African Community continues to realise its protocol on free movement of labor.The good news came in over the weekend following an agreement between the three states to abolish work permits.

A statement released on Monday by Trademark East Africa, notes that:Increasingly over the past years qualified staff from East Africa have been recruited into managerial positions and a number of professionals.

Accountants, lawyers and doctors too have benefited from the mutual recognition of qualifications, allowing them to practice their vocation in any of the three states, subject to registration with the respective professional bodies, the communiqué reads in part.

Trademark East Africa is a body that funds integration projects and it believes that the move is expected to help the three countries in recruiting competent skilled workers, which in the past was often sourced from international markets.

In particular in the hotel industry Rwanda has previously gained expertise from Kenyans and Ugandans.

This is yet another tangible benefit for citizens of the Northern Corridor Integration Projects which have benefited through a range of measures, from common phone tariffs when calling into one of the other two countries to passport free travel, from a widening of air transport choices to recognition of professional qualifications and now work permit free employment Trademark East Africa notes.

Among all the five partner states, only Rwanda had previously waived work permit fees on citizens of the regional bloc, only requiring them to renew the permits periodically but at no cost.

Source: Star Africa

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