Zaheerah Jinnah - SIHMA Seminar 2: 30 July 2014

Migrating for Work Research Consortium 1

Paradigms, Policy, and Practices:

examining the current context of migration to

South Africa with a special focus on lower

skilled labour migrants.

Zaheera Jinnah, PhD

African Centre for Migration & Society,

University of the Witwatersrand

30 July 2014

African Centre for Migration & Society (ACMS), University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag X3, Wits 2050, South Africa

T: +27 11 717 4033 F: +27 11 717 4039 | www.miworc.org.za

Migrating for Work Research Consortium 2

3 main points

• Shift the paradigm on international migration away from fears of securitisation, and toward migration as a potential for development and growth;

• Develop better informed and more coherent migration policy options;

• Examine practices of irregular entry and/or work and the implications of these.

Migrating for Work Research Consortium 3

Paradigm Shift

Migrating for Work Research Consortium 4

Securitisation

“Home Affairs plays a decisive role as the backbone of the developmental state and is central to enabling security and service delivery”.

“ideally, municipalities should know who lives and works and runs businesses in their area as well their status.

ANC’s Peace and Stability discussion document 2012, pp1-6

Migrating for Work Research Consortium 5

Paradigm

“Another urgent immigration challenge is the need to recognise and efficiently regularise the flow of economic migrants, particularly from our neighbouring countries of SADC” Pandor July 2013.

“We value the contribution of fellow Africans from across the continent living in South Africa and that is why we have continued to support the AU and SADC initiatives to free human movement, but this cannot happen haphazardly... or to the exclusion of security,” Gigaba July 2014.

Migrating for Work Research Consortium 6

Migrating for Work Research Consortium 7

Policy

Migrating for Work Research Consortium 8

Migrating for Work Research Consortium 9

Possible policy options

• SADC:

Revised Draft Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan(RISDP) 2015-2020 and Priorities for the Employment and Labour Sector(ELS) which contain a blueprint for SADC LM policy framework.

Migrating for Work Research Consortium 10

Looking beyond

borders

Migrating for Work Research Consortium 11