Cape Town: Cabinet has approved the Employment Services Amendment Bill for submission to Parliament, at its meeting held in Cape Town on Wednesday. The Bill provides a policy framework and the legal basis to regulate the employment of foreign nationals in businesses while promoting national security and national interests.
According to South African Government News Agency, addressing the media in Cape Town, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni stated that the purpose of the Bill is to regulate labour brokers to prevent worker exploitation, particularly the provision of cheap labour through undocumented foreign nationals. The Bill aims to create consistency between the provisions of the Immigration Act and the Refugees Act.
Ntshavheni explained that the Bill proposes a framework allowing the Minister of Employment and Labour to set quotas for the employment of foreign nationals. These quotas may apply to sectors of the economy, occupational categories, or geographical areas. The Minister will establish these quotas after consulting the Employment Services Board and considering public comments.
Cabinet has directed the Minister of Employment and Labour to expedite consultations to define scarce and critical skills, aiming to develop a domestic skills base and improve employment opportunities for more unemployed South Africans. Additionally, the finalisation of the White Paper on Immigration is deemed essential for effective labour migration management and administration.