To succeed in an ever-changing global economy, our country needs more people with the right skills. This is so our economy can be competitive, grow and create jobs.
As a country, we have invested significantly in developing these skills, including significantly expanding access to higher education, introducing digital programs into TVET universities, and moving to new pay-for-performance approaches to skills development. I did.
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But it will take some time before our country can produce enough skilled talent to grow rapidly.
A research report published last year found that the available labor supply in South Africa is “essentially for businesses looking to hire management level talent, professionals, engineers, technicians, science and mathematics educators and IT professionals. It was found that the demand was not in line with demand. This means that, at least in the short term, many of these advanced skills will need to be sourced internationally.
skill visa
Last week, the Department of Home Affairs published for public comment draft amendments to existing immigration regulations that would significantly strengthen efforts to attract workers with critical skills to South Africa. The draft amendments address his two visa categories: remote work visas and critical skills visas.
The introduction of remote work visas is a response to the rapidly evolving world of work, where a growing number of skilled workers, particularly in the technology industry, are attracted to the lifestyle benefits of working remotely. It also supports so-called digital nomads, who can work virtually from anywhere in the world. Remote workers who wish to work in South Africa while employed by a foreign company can receive such a visa.
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A year later, the chances of a remote worker visa are looking a little slimmer… [Feb 2023]
SA risks losing business investment due to visa 'chaos' [Nov 2023]
Motsoaledi denies work permit crisis [Nov 2023]
The draft regulation proposes the introduction of a points system for critical skills visas that takes into account factors such as age, qualifications, language skills, work history, and whether or not a worker has been offered a job offer.
The publication of the new draft regulations is part of our ongoing efforts to reform the country's visa system to facilitate access to the skills our economy needs and foster innovation and entrepreneurship. An efficient, agile and responsive visa system is key to attracting business investment and driving economic growth.
International experience shows that employees with critical skills contribute to increased productivity, enhanced innovation, and increased competitiveness of the companies they work for.
Trusted Employer System
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Last October, the Home Office published guidelines for corporate employers under the Trusted Employer Scheme to ease the visa process and streamline application requirements for large investors.
Under this system, companies looking to hire skilled foreign workers will be vetted and approved in advance to reduce the administrative burden of visa applications.
Read: Visa confusion: How good policy fails in implementation
South Africa is rapidly becoming an attractive destination for industries such as business process outsourcing and customer experience, making it important to attract more skilled workers. For example, last year a leading international strategic advisory firm ranked South Africa as the second most popular offshore customer experience destination in the world.
Since 2016, the government has invested over R3 billion to support the growth and expansion of business process outsourcing, with the aim of creating approximately 500,000 jobs in the sector by 2030.
The new work visa regulations are a milestone in line with our continued efforts to attract higher levels of investment and foster job creation. These are part of the high-impact structural reforms we are undertaking to improve our business operating environment.
They send a clear signal to businesses that we are committed to acquiring the skills that meet the demands of a modern, inclusive and growing economy.
