South Africa tightens employment rules: priority for citizens and fast-track visas for investors

Written by Amna Hassan

South took Africa A new step to reorganize the labor market, by launching a policy that prioritizes citizens and permanent residents in employment opportunities, in exchange for providing incentives to companies that adhere to these rules, most notably accelerating the procedures for issuing work visas for specialized foreign personnel.

This move comes as part of government reforms aimed at striking a balance between attracting foreign investment and preserving job opportunities for citizens, amid escalating internal debate over immigration and unemployment.

Strict conditions for obtaining privileges

The Department of Home Affairs announced that access to the Trusted Employer Scheme (TES) will be limited to companies that demonstrate a commitment to employing local workers, with South African citizens or permanent residents making up at least 60% of their total workforce.

The government also requires companies to prove they have real investments within the country, in addition to implementing skills development and knowledge transfer programs, with a focus on priority economic sectors.

Faster visas to attract global talent

In return, the government grants accredited companies benefits related to the speed of processing work visas for executives, experts and specialized professionals, with the aim of reducing bureaucratic procedures that have been an obstacle for investors.

Pretoria confirms that the program does not aim to bring in low-skilled labor, but is limited to specializations in which the local market suffers from a clear shortage, thus ensuring that skills gaps are filled without affecting the opportunities of citizens.

Expanding the program to support investment

The second phase of the program includes strategic infrastructure companies, as well as institutions that establish or operate their regional or global headquarters from South Africa, in a move aimed at strengthening the country’s position as a major investment hub in the African continent.

Companies wishing to join are subject to a thorough evaluation process that begins with an expression of interest request, before the Ministry of Interior decides whether to accept or reject the request, and then signs a memorandum of understanding with the accepted companies to benefit from the program’s advantages.

In response to labor market pressures

The announcement comes after a wave of anti-immigration protests and growing public demands to prioritize local employment amid rising unemployment rates.

The government believes that the new reforms represent an attempt to achieve a difficult equation that combines attracting global investments and skills on the one hand, and protecting job opportunities for South African citizens on the other, in order to support economic growth and enhance labor market stability in the coming years.