Cape Town – President Cyril Ramaphosa sees the draft work visa regulations, including remote work and critical skills visas, as a milestone for attracting investment and fostering job creation.
The Department of Home Affairs published the second draft amendment of the Immigration Regulations last week, opening it for public commentary.
The proposed regulations aim to reform the visa system, making it easier to attract skilled workers and promote innovation and entrepreneurship.
“The publication of the new draft regulations are part of our ongoing drive to reform the country’s visa system, making it easier to attract the skills our economy’s needs and promoting innovation and entrepreneurship. An efficient, agile, responsive visa regime is 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,” Ramaphosa said in his weekly newsletter on Monday.
In line with our ongoing efforts to attract higher levels of investment and promote job creation, the new work visa regulations are a milestone. They are part of high-impact structural reforms we are undertaking to improve the business operating environment.… pic.twitter.com/CZ2daT30sK
— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) February 12, 2024
The introduction of a points system for critical skills visas considers factors such as age, qualifications, language skills, work experience, and employment offers.
The new remote working visa acknowledges the changing nature of work and caters to digital nomads.
Ramaphosa emphasised the importance of attracting the right skills to enhance productivity, innovation, and competitiveness in the global economy.
The move aligns with South Africa’s efforts to become an attractive destination for industries like business process outsourcing and customer experience, supporting economic growth and job creation.
“Last year, for example, a leading international strategic advisory firm ranked South Africa second as the most favoured offshore customer experience delivery destination globally. Since 2016, government has invested more than R3 billion towards supporting the growth and expansion of business process outsourcing and is targeting the creation of approximately 500 000 jobs in the sector by 2030.
“In line with our ongoing efforts to attract higher levels of investment and promote job creation, the new work visa regulations are a milestone. They are part of high-impact structural reforms we are undertaking to improve the business operating environment.
“They send a clear signal to business that we are committed to attracting skills that meet the demands of a modern, inclusive and growing economy,” the president said.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
