The Speaker of EALA, Rt. Hon Daniel Kidega has said the Assembly will take on board stakeholders’ concerns and strive to resolve all as the region deepens and strengthens the integration process. Rt. Hon Kidega was speaking this morning when he received a petition from the trade union movement and workers as well as another from the youth fraternity.
First to present the petition was the EAC Youth Ambassadors. The Ambassadors were led by the Chairperson, Gasparino Haule, Youth Ambassador of the United Republic of Tanzania. The petition presented by Chacha Roba (Youth Ambassador, Kenya) on behalf of the rest, among other things, calls for the establishment of National Youth Council in Partner States where they are non-existent and for the enhanced vibrancy of the Youth Councils’ activities in the Partner States.
At the same time, the youth want a regional outfit, East African Youth Council (EAYC) formed and are calling for Partner States to adhere to the provisions of the African Charter on the Youth. The youth also want the EALA and Partner States’ National Assemblies to consider reserving slots for youth representation at the respective Assemblies.
Ambassador Chacha Roba said the youth constituted about 63% of the population at the EAC and it was necessary to have avenues for them to contribute to the decision making processes at the EAC.
The Speaker urged the youth to fully embrace the regional integration process. He said the Assembly would take the concerns of the youth fully on board and to generate the necessary motions and bills.
Hon Peter Mathuki said the Assembly was keen to see matters of the youth addressed. He however, told the youth to vigourously sell the integration message at national level.
Hon Dr. Martin Nduwimana said the Committee of General Purpose would critically look into the matters presented in the petition.
The second petition was presented by the East African Employers Association and its counterpart, the East African Trade Union Confederation. The delegation led by the Chairperson of the EAEO, Mrs Rose Ssenabuluya said the workers and employers were keen to see the Common Market Protocol fully implemented to enhance productivity.
She remarked that mobility of workers was key to strengthening the integration of workers and free movement. The EATUC/EAEO has made 17 prayers in their request. Such include the harmonization of the standards and processes of acquiring permits as well as the future amendment of annex 2 of the Common Market Protocol to put in place a roadmap for free movement of workers. The petitioners also want the standardization of the process of the work permits and the eventual removal of the permits.
The Chairperson noted that already the Republics of Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda had waived fees except that there were some existing restrictions. She challenged Partner States to consider the abolition of work permits all together in the spirit of fostering integration.
The EAEO Chairperson was accompanied by officials Mr. Gahungu Tharcise, Ndabahagamye Louis, Douglas Opio, Policy and Research Coordinator of EAEO and Steven Mwaiko, Programme Officer, EATUC.
Present at the occasion were Hon Peter Mathuki and Hon Dr. Martin Nduwimana. Hon Mathuki lauded the employers and the workers union for enhancing tripartite (workers, employers and ministries of labour) as social partners in line with the International Labour Organisation convention no 144.
The Speaker has meanwhile forwarded the petition of the youth to the Committee on General Purpose and that of the workers to the Committee of Communications, Trade and Investment.
-Ends-
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