COTU backs EA countries decision not to sign EPA deal

COTU backs EA countries decision not to sign EPA deal

The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) now says it supports the position taken by the rest of the East African Community Member States other than Kenya to resist the signing of the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) until certain clauses in the Agreements are addressed.

In a statement, COTU (K) said while it was very vocal in pushing for the EPAs to be negotiated and signed at the sub-regional levels, the organization realised that countries in Europe covered under EPAs were bullying their counterparts in the region.

“The Kenya government should restrain itself from being the “European Ambassador” to lobby the rest of the Member States of the East Africa Community into signing the EPA’s .and should equally be cautious that its move to sign EPA’s against the wish of its colleagues in the region is likely to jeopardise the much needed regional integration,” said COTU in a statement signed by Secretary General Francis Atwoli.

“At the same time, the inclusion of the social clause in these agreements as cited under the Social Development Goals, SDGs Goal number 8 remains key in guaranteeing workers support since this clause will now force all business operatives from both ends to recognizes Collective Bargaining Agreements, CBAs with Trade Unions,” further read the statement.

Atwoli noted that opening the region for unfiltered free access by European goods will greatly hamper individual regional country’s efforts to industrialize.

“Opening up our markets for unfiltered free access by European goods including dumping will greatly hamper individual regional country’s efforts to industrialize since this is the same trend that has over the years killed our infant industries leading to their subsequent closure and it is wrong for the Kenya government to only look at horticulture and flower industries that will benefit from the deal at the expense of the many other sectors,” read the statement.

“Let the Kenya government be alive to all these issues including the fact that the government will lose huge revenue as a result of signing the EPAs and no doubt allowing cheap imports from the European market will continue to hamper our Industrialization process just as will pose a huge challenge now to our customs union based on the rules of origin clause where Kenya will find it difficult to trade with the rest of the Community Member States,” further read the statement.

This comes as the East African Community trade bloc said it will delay signing a trade agreement with the European Union, originally set for Oct.1, this according to Tanzanian President John Magufuli.

Kenya and Rwanda signed the agreement earlier this month, but it needs approval from all members of the East African Community bloc to take effect.

The pact, known as the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), gives products from EAC member states duty- and quota-free access to the EU as long as they meet health and safety standards.

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kenya EAC COTU economic partnership agreement EPA EPAs

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