Foreign workers in Comoros face challenges after law limits their job opportunities
The Comoros government enacted a law in July restricting foreign nationals from certain jobs, notably affecting Malagasy traders like Larissa Razafitianna. While critics call the law discriminatory, supporters argue it promotes economic sovereignty and social justice, similar to measures in Tanzania and Kenya.
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The Comoros passed a law in July that bars foreign nationals from engaging in certain jobs, a move that has unsettled many foreign workers, particularly Malagasy traders. Larissa Razafitianna, who sells shoes near the country’s largest market, fears for her financial future as her visa for business was refused.
Critics argue the legislation is discriminatory and risks pushing vulnerable groups into greater precarity. However, supporters, including Hamidou Mhoma, Vice-President of New OPACO, defend the law as a measure of social justice and economic sovereignty, noting similar policies in Tanzania and proposals in Kenya.
Mhoma emphasized that foreigners are still welcome in salaried employment but entrepreneurship is reserved for those who invest in sectors where the Comoros lacks skills or capital. Tanzania recently banned foreigners from owning businesses in multiple sectors, and Kenya’s president has made remarks against foreign hawkers, reflecting a regional trend.