MZANSI needs more skilled foreigners!
This is according to President Cyril Ramaphosa.
In his newsletter on Monday, 12 February, Ramaphosa emphasised the need for more people with the right skills to succeed in an ever-changing global economy.
The call for skilled foreign workers
“This is so that our economy can be competitive, grow and create employment. As a country, we've invested much in producing these skills, from significantly expanding access to higher education, introducing digital programmes in TVET colleges and a shift to a new pay-for-performance approach to skills development.
"However, it will take some time before we'll be able to produce enough skilled people to enable our country to grow rapidly,” Ramaphosa said.
Challenges in the labour market
A review report published last year found that South Africa’s available labour supply “does not match demand from companies which are essentially looking to employ management-level personnel, professionals, engineers, technicians, science and maths educators, as well as IT experts”.
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The president pointed out that many of these high-level skills must be sourced internationally, at least in the short-term.
Last week, the Department of Home Affairs published four public comment draft amendments to existing immigration regulations that will significantly boost efforts to attract workers with critical skills to Mzansi.
The evolving world of work
The draft amendments deal with two visa categories: a remote working visa and the critical skills visa.
“The introduction of a remote working visa responds to the rapidly evolving world of work, where increasing numbers of skilled workers, notably in the tech industry, are attracted by the lifestyle benefits of working from a remote location,” Ramaphosa said.
He added that it also caters to so-called digital nomads, who are able to work virtually from any location in the world.
A remote worker who wants to work in South Africa while employed by a foreign company will be able to receive such a visa.
Mzansi's economic growth
Ramaphosa said an efficient, agile, responsive visa regime was key to attracting business investment and boosting economic growth.
“International experience shows that employees with critical skills contribute to improved productivity, enhanced innovation, and improving the competitiveness of the firms they work for,” he said.
In October last year, the Department of Home Affairs released guidelines for corporate employers under a ‘Trusted Employer Scheme’, which will make the visa process easier for large investors and streamline application requirements.
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Furthermore, the introduction of a 'Trusted Employer Scheme' aims to simplify the visa process for large investors, making South Africa more appealing for industries like business process outsourcing and customer experience. Ramaphosa cited the country's growing attractiveness as an offshore customer experience delivery destination and the government's investment in supporting the sector's expansion.
The president claimed that the guidelines send a clear signal to business that Mzansi is committed to attracting skills that meet the demands of a modern, inclusive and growing economy.
