Africa | America | Asia | Australasia | Europe | India | Middle East | UK | US

South Africa launches new work permit to attract skilled foreigners

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 an...
Posted : Wed, 25 Apr 2007 12:21:59 GMT
Author : DPA
Category : Africa (World)
News Alerts by Email ( click here )
Africa World News | Home
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.

Copyright, respective author or news agency

Share/Save/Bookmark

Article : South Africa launches new work permit to attract skilled foreigners
Print this article
Email this article

Stay Updated
News gadget on your Google homepage
Subscribe to a news feed in Google Reader



Have your Say
Name
Email
Subject
Your Comment

Enter Verification code
 
  

 

 
Your Comments

security measure
By: adediran olabanji jamiu , Sat, 27 Jun 2009 07:43:44 GMT

I consider this gesture as a very loudable step towards a stronger nation building. My major concern is area of security. What is the level of readiness towards ensuring the safety of foreigners like me who are willing to come to south to live and work? Are there assurances that what happened last year where foreiners were brutalised by south african indigenes wont repeat itself?
Kindly allay my fears in area of security.


work permit
By: martin kwasi adu , Mon, 02 Feb 2009 08:38:16 GMT

i want live there



More Africa (World) News click here
Follow The Earth Times
Subscribe to RSS Follow Earth Times on TwitterNews by email
Share/Save/Bookmark

 
 



 
Subscribe to free Earthtimes
News Alerts by Email Click here
For RSS Feeds Click here
or Create your own RSS

Add to Google Toolbar
Breaking News
Press Releases


The Earth Times
News Category

© 2009 www.earthtimes.org, The Earth Times, All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy
Earth Times accept no responsibility or liability either directly or indirectly for views or opinions expressed in articles or comments.