Cabinet approves National Labour Migration Policy to regulate foreign employment

COSATU has welcomed the Cabinet approving the National Labour Migration Policy (NLMP) White Paper 2025 for implementation.

- YOGASHEN PILLAY

The paper will mark a significant step in regulating the movement and employment of foreign nationals in South Africa.

Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said that the policy seeks to provide a framework to enforce proper and orderly movement and employment of foreign nationals in the country. “It aims to achieve a balance across several areas, including addressing South Africans’ expectations for job prospects, in light of rising unemployment and the perception that foreign nationals restrict labour market access.”

Cabinet said that the NLMP introduces quotas on the total number of documented foreign nationals with work visas that can be employed in major economic sectors such as agriculture, hospitality and tourism, as well as construction, among others.

“The policy complements other interventions such as enforcement of a list of sectors where foreign nationals cannot be allocated business visas and amendments to the National Small Enterprise Act, 1996 (Act 102 of 1996), as amended, to limit foreign nationals establishing small, medium and micro enterprises, and trading in some sectors of the economy.”