6 days ago
Cabinet approves bill aimed at regulating movement and employment of foreign nationals
CAPE TOWN - Cabinet has approved the introduction of a new bill that seeks to limit the number of foreign nationals that can be employed in the country.
At the same time, it also approved the National Labour Migration Policy White Paper, which introduces quotas on the total number of documented foreign nationals that can be employed in major sectors such as agriculture, hospitality, tourism, and construction.
Providing an update on Cabinet decisions at parliament on Thursday, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshaveni said the policy is aimed at achieving balance across the sectors, including addressing South Africans' expectations for job prospects amid rising unemployment.
"The policy complements other interventions such as the enforcement of a list of sectors where foreign nationals cannot be allocated business visas and amendments to the National Small Enterprise Act, 1996, which limits foreign nationals establishing Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises, and trading in some sectors of the economy."
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Cabinet has also given the thumbs up to the tabling of the Employment Services Amendment Bill in Parliament, which provides a policy framework and the legal basis to regulate the employment of foreign nationals in business.
It will also tighten the screws on labour brokers to prevent exploitation through the employment of undocumented foreign nationals.
According to the bill, the employment minister will have the power to set quotas for the employment of foreign nationals.
"Cabinet directed the Minister of Employment and Labour to speedily finalise the mapping, through consultations, of what constitutes scarce and critical skills in order to develop a domestic skills base to improve absorption of more unemployed South Africans."
