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Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications: The East African Community

Trade Briefs

Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications: The East African Community

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For advanced regional economic integration arrangements, beyond trade in goods, the free movement of labour, is an essential part of the agenda. The free movement of labour creates many social and political challenges. At the heart of society’s concerns is the belief that foreign workers will replace local workers; that they will put added pressure on limited government resources through the use of social services; and, that temporary stay will turn into permanent residence. These perceptions create political ramifications, because in the realm of politics perception often trumps the truth.

One of the major challenges associated with the movement of labour across borders is the lack of recognition of foreign-obtained academic and professional qualifications and experience. In practice, in order for a foreign qualified professional person to practice their profession in another country, they either need to requalify in the host country and obtain the required qualifications or their foreign qualifications must be recognised by the host country.

Recognition requires a high level of trust in the quality of the education system and professional standards of the home country. Countries will only consider recognition (mostly on a reciprocal basis) if the foreign and local academic and professional qualifications are comparable either because they are harmonised or viewed as equivalent. In the case of harmonisation two different sets of standards or procedures are consolidated into one. With equivalence, different standards and procedures coexist but are treated as if they are the same because they produce the same results. With the conclusion of a mutual recognition agreement countries agree to accept and recognise each other’s requirements, certificates and licenses because they are harmonised or considered equivalent or because they satisfy external criteria such as an international standard. Mutual recognition agreements are therefore concluded between two or more countries as a mechanism to achieve regulatory convergence.

The purpose of this study is to focus on this particular aspect relating to the movement of labour with reference to the deeper regional integration objectives of the East African Community (EAC).


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