Employment and Labour held a robust dialogue on Labour Migration Policy and Governance - Mpumalanga
The Public Employment Services programme of the Department of Employment and Labour today, 26 October 2023 held a Labour Migration Policy and Governance dialogue in White River Mpumalanga.
Mandla Sibanyoni, Chief Director of Provincial Operations, in his address at the Provincial Dialogue, said he was delighted to see the room filled to capacity, with diverse stakeholders from throughout the province and that they were all in attendance, to provide insight on the National Labour Migration Policy (NLMP).
Among those present was Sam Morotoba, the Department's Acting Director-General, who also spoke at the event.
“The rationale of the National Labour Migration Policy (NLMP) is to achieve a balance between the South African population expectations, labour market needs, protection of migrant workers and their families, together with regional integration and cooperation imperatives,” said the Acting Director General.
He said that the country's labour migration traces back to the 'Two Gate Policy' implemented by previous governments and the apartheid state. "This was based on a two-pronged approach, which included measures such as loud stock, taxation, and other legislation that forced Africans to sell their labour to mines and emerging industries." "The second prong was to conclude agreements with neighbouring countries and pay them remittances for sending cheap labour to work primarily in mining areas through agreements that are still in force today," Morotoba explained.
According to Morotoba, the development of the NLMP in consultation with the Employment Service Board began in 2015 as part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Ministers of Labour and Social Affairs resolution to ensure harmonization of migration policies within the Sub-region.
In brief, he said, the policy will concentrate on three important intervention areas: labour migration governance and management, labour migration data, and labour migration to and from South Africa.
"Progress to date is that since the draft was released for public comments on 29 February 2022, a total of 33 public hearings have been conducted in all provinces and it was also presented in the SADC structures as part of the progress report amongst member states," Morotoba stated.
For media inquiries, kindly contact:
Hlanganisa Mbatha
Provincial Communication Officer: Mpumalanga
Cell: 082 757 5265
E-mail: Hlanganisa.mbatha@labour.gov.za
