South Africa April 2006 |
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| Immigration law 'will harm growth', (I-Net Bridge, 2006-04-19):-International companies have warned that South Africa's immigration regulations are hurting their operations in the country and could create obstacles to faster economic growth, the London Financial Times reported on Wednesday. Business groups recently called for an amendment to new rules that have made it difficult for some foreigners to work in the country, the report said. "Last week the British Chamber of Business in Southern Africa said immigration problems are having a detrimental impact on the short-term effective running of local and international business in South Africa," the Financial Times said. "This followed a statement in late March by the Foreign Correspondents' Association of Southern Africa that the new immigration regime had 'created a lot of problems' for its members." According to the newspaper, Deloitte, PwC and KPMG are currently circulating a draft letter among foreign business chambers which will be presented to ministers in President Thabo Mbeki's government calling for an "easing of rules on general work permits, intracompany transfers and quotas for skilled migrants". The letter, seen by the FT, claims that new immigration rules "impact very negatively on the availability of skills and experience" to foreign and local businesses operating in South Africa and could hamper further foreign investment and economic growth. "South Africa revised its immigration law last July. The new legislation removed a number of loopholes and exemptions under which skilled foreigners worked in the country. It was designed to streamline existing rules," the Financial Times said. "Since then some foreign executives and journalists have been refused extensions to their two-year intracompany work permits, or been asked to leave the country and apply from abroad. Before the legal changes, extensions were more easily available. Foreign companies operating in South Africa have also been requested to advertise expatriates' jobs locally, including positions for senior executives with international experience. "Companies seeking exemptions from the rule say they have been refused or had to wait for months to secure one," the newspaper concluded. | |
South African Migration Project (SAMP) - Queen's University - http://www.queensu.ca/samp |