The EAC Manpower Survey

Posted in Labour

The East African Community (EAC), in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the EAC Secretariat, has embarked on a significant initiative: the EAC Manpower Survey. This comprehensive survey aims to gather valuable data on various aspects of the labour market across the region.

The EAC Manpower Survey consists of six modules, each designed to capture specific aspects of the labor landscape within the East African Community:

1. Employers: Gathering insights from employers to understand their workforce needs, challenges, and requirements;
   
   
2. Employees: Collecting data from employees to gain insights into their employment status, skills, and job satisfaction;
   
   
3. Education and Training Institutions: Assessing the quality and effectiveness of education and training programs offered within the EAC;
   
   
4. Informal Sector: Examining the dynamics of the informal sector, including employment patterns and economic contributions;
   
   
5. Unemployment: Understanding the prevalence and characteristics of unemployment across the region; and
   
   
6. Nationals in Diaspora: Gathering data on EAC nationals residing abroad to understand their skills, employment status, and contributions to their host countries and the region.

To ensure consistency and comparability across Partner States, a regionally agreed methodology has been developed for conducting the manpower surveys. This standardization facilitates meaningful comparisons and allows for the development of a comprehensive regional manpower database.

The Partner States are committed to conducting manpower surveys regularly, following the regional standards and timelines. This commitment ensures that policymakers and stakeholders have access to up-to-date and comparable data for informed decision-making and policy formulation.

The data collected through the EAC Manpower Survey will serve as a foundational resource for policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders within the region. By providing insights into various aspects of the labor market, these surveys will inform the development of policies and initiatives aimed at promoting employment, skills development, and economic growth within the East African Community.

Framework of Joint Programme on the Exchange of Young Workers Amongst EAC Partner States

Posted in Labour

In line with the vision of the East African Community (EAC) to promote deeper integration and collaboration among its Partner States, a Framework of a Joint Programme on the Exchange of Young Workers has been developed. This initiative aims to operationalize Article 10(8) of the EAC Common Market Protocol, which emphasizes the importance of facilitating the movement of young workers across Partner States.

Objectives of the Programme

The Joint Programme on the Exchange of Young Workers is designed to achieve the following objectives:

• Encourage and Facilitate Skills Exchange: Promote continuous skills exchange and development among young workers across the EAC Partner States;
  
  
• Strengthen Opportunities for Contribution: Enhance opportunities for young workers to meaningfully contribute to the integration process within the EAC; and
  
  
• Exposure to Diversity: Expose young workers to the diverse work environments, cultures, and ethos present in different Partner States, thereby accelerating, widening, and deepening the integration process.

By facilitating the exchange of young workers, this framework seeks to empower the future workforce of the East African Community. Through exposure to diverse experiences and opportunities, young workers will be better equipped to contribute effectively to the regional integration agenda.

While the framework is still undergoing legal drafting, efforts are underway to finalize and adopt it. Once adopted, the framework will serve as a guiding document for the implementation of the Joint Programme on the Exchange of Young Workers.

The EAC Common Market Scorecard

Posted in Labour

The EAC Common Market Scorecard serves as a vital tool for evaluating the extent to which Partner States are complying with their obligations under the Common Market Protocol (CMP). It measures legal compliance and implementation milestones related to the liberalization of cross-border movement of capital, services, and goods across the East African Community.

Introduced in 2026, this biennial publication evaluates the progress made towards the liberalization of cross-border movement in goods, services, and capital, as well as implementation milestones in line with the provisions of the Common Market Protocol. The assessment focuses on the development of a common market in goods, services, and capital across the region.

What the Scorecard Doesn't Measure

It is important to note that the EAC Common Market Scorecard does not measure:

• De Facto Compliance: While the Scorecard assesses legal compliance, it does not measure how commitments are implemented in practice;
  
  
• Impact of Restrictions: While it identifies restrictions, barriers, and non-conforming measures, it does not gauge their impact or severity; and
  
  
• Bilateral and Multilateral Agreements: The Scorecard focuses solely on compliance with national laws related to the Common Market Protocol and does not include bilateral or multilateral agreements entered into by Partner States.

Focus on National Laws

The assessment conducted for the Scorecard is based solely on national laws. The Scorecard evaluates the degree to which national laws align with the commitments outlined in the Common Market Protocol. However, it does not extend to compliance with agreements beyond national legislation.

A Tool for Progress

Despite its limitations, the EAC Common Market Scorecard serves as a valuable tool for monitoring progress towards common market integration within the East African Community. By identifying areas of compliance and challenges, it provides valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders working towards deeper regional integration.

Download

EAC Common Market Scorecard 2016

EAC Common Market Scorecard 2018

Regional Mechanism for Coordination of Social Security Benefits

Posted in Labour

The East African Community (EAC) is committed to ensuring that workers enjoy the full spectrum of social security rights and benefits across Partner States. Under Article 14(3)(d) of the EAC Treaty, the Council is empowered to issue regulations, directives, and decisions to facilitate this objective.

Article 10(3)(f) of the EAC Common Market Protocol stipulates that the free movement of workers within the Community entitles them to the same rights and benefits of social security as those accorded to workers in the host Partner State. Furthermore, Article 10(4) mandates the Council to issue directives and regulations to facilitate the implementation of social security benefits.

In collaboration with esteemed partners such as the International Labour Organization (ILO), the African Union Joint Labour Migration Programme (AUC JLMP) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the EAC Secretariat has developed a draft set of regulations titled the EAC Common Market (Coordination of Social Security Rights and Benefits) Regulations, 2023.

Once adopted, these regulations will apply to various social security rights and benefits, including:

• Old-age or Retirement Benefit;
• Disability or Invalidity Benefit;
• Survivors' Benefit;
• Employment Injury Benefits; and
• Occupational Diseases

Once adopted, the regulations will serve as a crucial framework for ensuring the coordination and harmonization of social security rights and benefits across the region. The adoption of these regulations will contribute significantly to ensuring that workers within the EAC have equitable access to social security benefits, regardless of their location within the Community. This is set to mark a significant step forward in promoting social inclusion and protection for all workers.