| Trends in labour migration
in SADC indicate the flow still mainly remains toward South Africa and in some cases
Botswana, experts say. As the region prepares to enter the new millennium, the migration
pattern which dates back to the 19th century continues to grow despite official attempts
to regulate it. The current waves of migration do not only include mine and agricultural
workers but also professionals and skilled workers. The destination of migrants tend to
be the relatively richer countries in the region, principally Botswana and South Africa.
One of the responses to the flows of migrants has been the tightening of immigration laws
and border controls to keep out unskilled workers.
The complex subject of labour migration was the focus of a regional seminar in Lusaka,
Zambia, in March. Among other issues, the seminar examined ways of structuring and
co-ordinating the movement of labour within the region to the mutual benefit of both
sending and receiving countries.
The move is also meant to promote the respect of basic human rights of migrant workers
in line with international labour standards and relevant national legislation.
Unemployment is forcing youth in southern Africa to trek down
south. Here, unemployed youth queue for recruitment at the police headquarters in Lusaka,
Zambia.
The seminar which targeted senior officials of ministries of
labour and employment, trade unions and employer’s associations was attended by
representatives from Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia, Seychelles, South
Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The main objective of the seminar was to determine
the scope and dimensions of labour migration within the southern African region. |
Detailed presentations
included topics on regional integration in a globalised economy; an overview of
international labour standards; the role of labour in regional integration; and labour
migration and labour administration. According to a report on labour migration to South
Africa in the 1990s, published by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the
1990’s have seen a marked rise in the flow of labour migrations to South Africa from
the southern African region. This development has been attributed to the political
liberalisation within South Africa and continued deterioration in the economies of many
neighbouring countries.
Governments, research institutions, labour organisations and business groupings are
attempting to weigh the costs and benefits of labour migration, and to formulate
appropriate policy responses. The report warns that the process is however taking place
within a politically charged atmosphere characterised by growing hostility towards
foreigners in South Africa and heightened expectations of returns from the post-apartheid
peace dividend in the rest of the SADC region.
“Migration to South Africa is currently the subject of
intense political debate within the country and the region,” the report says. But it
is quick to say much of that debate is based on poor understanding of the causes and
consequences of labour migration.
Despite the apprehension in South Africa over migrants to that
country, the country has gained substantial net benefits from inward labour migration over
many decades, but there is less agreement when it comes to the case of the labour-sending
countries. |
Southern Africa has a long
history of organised and informal labour migration between its territories. The ILO report
says from the late 19th century, South Africa was a key recipient of labour migrants from
Malawi, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland and Mozambique. In some leading
sectors, notably mining and commercial agriculture, labour migrants played a crucial role
in the development of large scale and highly profitable production. The report notes
that without cheap migrant labourers over a sustained period, South Africa’s key gold
mining industry and white farms would probably not have been developed at all. It adds
however that there has been little or no public recognition of this fact. The report in
its conclusion says most labour sending countries have realised net benefits at
macro-economic, local and individual levels, despite the negative effects from the loss
for labour in many local communities.
It stresses that co-ordination and redefining of labour migration policies by
labour sending countries is needed for the optimisation of benefits to migrant
labourers and their communities.
At continental level, Dr. Thomas Weiss, head of mission for International Organisation
for Migration (IOM) based in Harare says the continued exodus of professionals and experts
from Africa represents a crippling loss for the continent, depriving African economies of
people who are vitally needed for the process of development.
“Qualified individuals play an important role in raising economic productivity and
contribution made by trained and experienced human resources to economic and social
development can not be overemphasised,” he adds.
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