Cape Town - Hot on the heels of the tourism visa controversy, the DA raised alarm bells on Monday over the lack of speed in processing corporate work and general work permit applications.
DA MP Ian Ollis said only 53 percent of last year’s 95 corporate work visa applications – that can cover more than one person – were processed by the Department of Labour.
In addition, of the 741 individual work visa applications submitted, only 68 percent were processed – and 211 approved, according to statistics from the department’s annual report.
“We have a crisis now of bringing skilled people to work in South Africa,” said Ollis, adding unsuccessful applicants were not given reasons so they could fix their applications in cases where, say, a document was missing.
“The new role of the Department of Labour in vetting or approving corporate or individual work permits, and scarce skills visas, is an unmitigated disaster.”
The work permit application regime was changed by regulation after labour amendment laws were adopted in late 2013.
Since then, home affairs receives the work applications, but refers them to the labour department for approval against the gazetted categories of skilled workers.
DA MP Michael Bagraim said the lack of urgency in processing work visa applications meant less than a third of the potential 18 000 job opportunities were realised.
For every skilled worker, between three to five semi- or unskilled jobs are created, and one criteria for approving work permits is the training of South Africans.
If skilled work permits are not approved timeously, neither job creation nor training could happen, Bagraim said.
“We need a new minister to ensure all visa applications referred to the Department of Labour will be processed within seven days,” said Ollis.
“The alternative is the minister must hand back the whole visa (regimen) to home affairs.”
Deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa, during his question session in the House earlier this month, announced a relaxation of some of the visa requirements introduced last year.
This included acceptance of postal applications where South Africa did not have a presence, subject to collection of biometric data on arrival, and the dropping of minors’ unabridged birth certificates if they are travelling from visa-exempt countries.
Cape Argus
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