HOME Affairs Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi said there's no backlog regarding the critical skills visa applications.
Motsoaledi briefed the media regarding the amended immigration regulations in Hatfield, Tshwane on Tuesday, 9 April.
He said on 8 February 2024, the Immigration Regulations drafts were published for public comment with a closing date of 29 March 2024.
The key areas covering the four policy recommendations in the regulations are the introduction of the remote work visa and the introduction of the point-based system for general work visas as contemplated in section 19(2) of the Act.
Motsoaledi clarified that this specifically refers to section 19(2) of the Act and will be made clear in the regulations.
"Introduction of the Trusted Employer Scheme, and the frequent updating of the Critical Skills list which hitherto were updated only every four years," he said.
Motsoaledi also said the Critical Skills Visa is appearing in section 19(4) of the immigration Act.
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"The section states, subject to any prescribed requirement, critical skills work visa may be issued by the director-general to an individual possessing such skills or qualifications determined to be critical for the Republic from time to time by the minister by notice in the gazette," he said.
He said critical skills are not necessarily referring to important skills or prestigious skills. The minister said that critical skills means skills that are solely needed in the Republic for economic development but where there is a dire shortage of such skills within the Republic with a result that we need to look beyond the borders of South Africa.
Motsoaledi said Home Affairs is bringing in these amendments is to do away with the requirement of having to go to department of employment and labour and replace it with a point-based system.
"The point-based system will consider at least six criteria, age, qualifications, language skills, work experience, offer of employment and the ability to adapt within South Africa," he said.
He said that remote work visa is for people who are employed in other countries but want to perform that work remotely while staying in South Africa.
He said these will be people in IT, auditing, finance, and other jobs that allow you to work remotely.
And the introduction of Trusted Employer Scheme for qualifying companies is a means to provide a flexible pathway for employers to obtain work visas quickly in line with best practices.
Motsoaledi said the criteria for participating in the Trusted Employer Scheme are that you have to invest R100 million or more, and the investment must be proven and have 100 or more employees, with 60% of them being South Africans.
