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Foreign firms forced to employ locals

Johannesburg - Eighty percent of staff employed by foreign-owned businesses must be South African citizens or permanent residents, the home affairs department said on Tuesday.

"The department has proposed that foreign nationals with business interests in South Africa employ citizens or permanent residents comprising of not less than 80% of the staff complement of the business, as permanent staff in the prescribed categories - within a period of 12 months from the date of issue of the visa," the department said.

The statement was released after its director-general Jackie McKay briefed parliament's portfolio committee on home affairs.

"Prescribed categories will be determined by, amongst others, the Department of Trade and Industry."

Parties also agreed that some form of pre-screening of those seeking asylum in South Africa was needed, relating to entry requirements in terms of the Immigration Act, rather than the Refugees Act.

"This will assist the country deal with, for instance, fugitives from justice who are seeking refuge in South Africa. Once an asylum seeker has been successfully pre-screened, he or she will be directed to the closest Refugee Reception Office where his or her entry into South Africa will be processed according to the Refugee Act."

The briefing followed a series of public hearings on proposed changes to the Immigration Amendment Bill currently before Parliament.

The department has lessened the severity of the punitive measures - initially proposed in the bill - taken against officials and foreign nationals implicated in fraudulent and corrupt activity.

"Parties will continue to deliberate upon the issues presented by the department following which the Bill will be voted on in the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee before being voted on by the National Assembly."
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