Recent media reports have criticized South Africa’s restrictive visa rules and the Department of Home Affairs’ poor handling of visa applications. They claim these shortcomings discourage investors from entering the country, thereby inhibiting economic development and job creation.
According to the critical skills survey on XpatWeb, the difficulty in recruiting skilled artisans has risen 45% in the last year. This result makes artisans the third most sought-after skilled professional for companies. The search for ICT specialists and engineers is the only professions to precede skilled artisans.
South Africa will trial a new e-visa system in November, making it easier for tourists to enter the country thanks to the online capture of visa applications and biometric information.
The economy is in crisis. The latest unemployment statistics have rung alarm bells, and a possible downgrade by Moody’s looms. Government and business are both recommitting to creating jobs to kick-start growth.
The demand for critically skilled foreigners has significantly increased considering its integral role within the economic growth within South Africa.