What is the government’s stance when it comes to the employment of foreign workers?
On the one hand it is forging ahead with the formulation of a policy that will regulate the employment of foreign workers, particularly on low-skill jobs, to give priority to South Africans.
On the other hand it hires doctors and engineers from Cuba on a whim, at an astronomical cost to the taxpayer, instead of employing those who are right here in SA and who are desperate for jobs.
In the absence of a firm stance, what has emerged is an anti-foreigner sentiment among some political parties who are playing on the emotions of unemployed South Africans and blaming foreign workers for this.
SA has a massive unemployment problem, that’s a fact.
To use the employment of foreign nationals as a scapegoat to this problem is not only inflammatory, it is opportunistic.
That is not to say that some of the matters raised by unions — that workers are being overlooked for jobs as companies prefer foreign workers because they can pay them less and they are not aligned to unions — are not legitimate and a cause for concern.
For one, all workers must have the necessary permits and qualifications and/or experience for the jobs.
Also, they must be paid a fair wage in line with their job specifications.
But in raising these matters, the intimidation of drivers is simply unacceptable and, in some cases, purely xenophobic.
The thuggery and violence must be condemned and dealt with decisively.
It is, however, important that the rights of South Africans’ ability to secure jobs are protected; citizens should not be excluded from employment in favour of foreign workers, particularly for low-skill jobs.
In the absence of a firm stance, or even policy, on labour migration, politicians will continue to spew their anti-foreigner rhetoric and create a dangerous environment of intolerance which, we know, gives rise to the violence we have witnessed in recent weeks.
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