Johannesburg - South Africa is looking to attract close to 35,000 skilled immigrants through a new work permit scheme designed to address a critical skills shortfall in the growing economy. Home Affairs Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula on Wednesday announced the launch of the new permit targeting foreigners in 53 occupations, ranging from call-centre managers to agricultural economists.
Foreign nationals who obtain the permit will be allowed immigrate to South Africa without having first secured employment. Once in the country they have 90 days to find work in their field. The work permits are valid for as long as the holder is employed in his or her area of expertise.
After a similar scheme in 2006 failed to attract many applicants the minister said efforts had been made to simplify the process "to get as many skilled people into the economy as quickly as possible."
Although the official unemployment level in South Africa stands at 25.5 per cent, a shortage of skilled workers means employers have difficulties filling a range of positions.
Artisans and engineers are particularly in short supply. The Joint Initiative on Priority Skills Acquisition (JIPSA) - a programme founded by government, business and trade unions to address the skills issue - announced in March that 50,000 artisans and 12,000 engineers were needed by 2010.
The skills deficit threatens to jeopardize further gross domestic product (GDP) growth, from a current 5 per cent to the government's target of 6 per cent by 2010.
Analysts have also warned the shortage of skills could affect South Africa's staging of the 2010 football World Cup.
A Labour Department official said Wednesday many of the professions covered by the new work permit scheme related to infrastructure development.
