South Africa plans big immigration changes and 10,000 new labour inspectors

What is happening?

President Cyril Ramaphosa told Parliament that the government will take strong action against illegal immigration. This includes sending more people to check workplaces and deporting those who are in the country without permission.

New labour inspectors

The government will hire 10,000 new labour inspectors over the next three years. They will check if employers are following the law, especially when it comes to hiring foreign workers. Employers who break the rules will face higher fines.

Changes to who can work

New laws will set limits on how many foreign workers a company can hire. This is called an employment quota. The government also wants to make it harder for people to stay in the country illegally by fixing the asylum system and clearing backlogs.

Better border security

The six busiest ports of entry will be rebuilt, and refugee reception centres will move to border posts. More technology and people will be used to secure the borders.

What does this mean for job seekers?

If you are a South African job seeker, these changes could mean more job opportunities because employers may be forced to hire locally. But it also means that labour inspectors will check workplaces more often, so all workers should know their rights.

Important: No racism or violence

Ramaphosa warned that no one should take the law into their own hands. He said there is no place for racism or xenophobia. People must treat everyone with respect, even while enforcing immigration laws.

This article was originally published on Sowetan.