What Does South Africa’s New Labour Migration Policy Mean for Foreign Workers and Local Jobs?

The South African Cabinet approved the White Paper on the National Labour Migration Policy (NLMP) 2025, which represents an important shift in how South Africa will control the employment of foreign nationals. With the NLMP come new regulations to balance the need for local employment with the need for skilled foreign labour for the workforce.

Regulating Foreign Employment in Key Sectors

The NLMP’s main objective is to establish a regulated framework for the organised use of foreign nationals. This emerged out of an increasing anxiety about rising unemployment of South Africans and the perception that foreign nationals are stealing jobs from our people. One of the key elements involved is introducing quotas which restrict the number of foreign nationals that can work in the agriculture, construction, tourism and hospitality sectors.

The policy complements existing interventions, such as the implementation of a list of industry sectors where foreign nationals cannot obtain business visas and the amendment of the National Small Enterprise Act to limit foreign ownership in certain parts of the economy.

Balancing Brain Gain and Brain Drain

The NLMP is not only a restrictive policy; it is South Africa’s first comprehensive labour migration policy, focusing on managing the movement of labour in and out of South Africa. It encourages a “brain gain” by attracting skilled foreign professionals while mitigating the “brain drain” caused by South Africans who emigrate.

The Employment Services Amendment Bill supports legislation that will provide a legal basis to enforce these employment quotas and growing business priorities that South African citizens should be first.

This groundbreaking policy will impact the dynamics of South Africa’s labour market, including how businesses approach recruitment and how foreign nationals may access employment opportunities in South Africa.