29 Jul 2014

The Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs is in the process of formulating a national migration policy that will provide guidance in the management of irregular migration.

Speaking at the Pitso on Irregular Migration, labour and home affairs minister, Mr Edwin Batshu said the policy would assist in managing challenges associated with irregular migration. Mr Batshu said efforts to manage migration will serve to strengthen the already existing immigration controls. 

He said in 2010, the Immigration Act was reviewed in an effort to strengthen immigration controls, in particular the penalties for irregular stay and employing irregular migrants.

He said, despite the penalty having been increased from P10 to P100 per day, irregular migration and overstaying was not reduced, hence challenging the ministry to look for even better and effective ways of managing the challenge.

Minister Batshu further stated that the current policy of trace, arrest and repatriate had worked to a certain degree, hence the need to review the policy, going forward.

“In trying to come up with a lasting solution. It is important to acknowledge some of the push and pull factors contributing to irregular migration,” he said.

Mr Batshu also said the policies should take in to account the realities in some neighbouring countries since the success of the country to manage migration was premised on the efforts made by neighbours towards management of migration.

He further cautioned the participants that in an effort to manage irregular migration, they should guard against being understood as breeding xenophobia.

The workshop themed, Ensuring safer migration towards socio-economic growth and national security, aimed to raise awareness on the effects of irregular migration and review current strategies aimed at combating irregular migration.

The workshop also aimed at coming up with recommendations that will inform a strategy for the management of irregular migration. ENDS