new directions to old destinations: unpacking recent trends and policy developments on cross border...

The Green Paper on International Migration

17 August 2016 Cathedral of Christ the King, Johannesburg

New directions to old destinations?: unpacking recent trends and policy developments on cross border labour migration to South

Africa Zaheera Jinnah

African Centre for Migration & Society. www.migration.org.za

A)Context: 1) Control

Context: 2. Mixed migration

Non nationals by occupation 2012: QLFS

Context

B) Green paper : June 2016

• Underlying principles• Evidence• Managed migration

1) Underlying principles

security development

AND/OR

2. Evidence

• Smugglers, traffickers terrorists

• Costs of provisions (asylum detention centres)

• Integration policy: Social security for refugees p71; basic services

3. Managing migration

Two provisions: skilled and general• Progressive on the one hand Long- term visa (family oriented) (p44)Strategic use of visa and permitting to retain international students post-graduation (p44)• But… Administrative challenges would remain

and major gap: skilled refugees

3. Managing migration

SADC economic migrants• Recognition of historical and contemporary

realities • Recognition of policy shortcomings and its impact • Introduction of strategic initiatives (SDP) but no

mention of their limitations• 3 policy options:– On what basis will the options be evaluated?– How do they link to already existing mechanisms?

3. Managing migration: where to from here?

Regional policies• SADC LM policy framework

Clear principles and institutional structures

Inter-ministerial and broad based partnerships• needs effort and

leadership

Zaheera.jinnah@wits.ac.za

African Centre for Migration & Society. www.migration.org.za