12 Jan 2016

The public is informed that the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs, through the Department of Labour and Social Security, will cease the issuance of unqualified emergency work permits issued in terms of Section 27 (1) of the Immigration Act 2010, (Act No. 3 of 2011) with immediate effect. 

According to a press release, the ministry will only process genuine emergency applications.

The release goes on to state that an emergency is defined as “a sudden, unexpected, or impending situation that may cause injury, loss of life, damage to property, and/or interference with the normal activities of a person or firm and which, therefore, requires immediate attention and remedial action.”

It states that the decision follows the realisation that the majority of applicants for such permits have been abusing the dispensation by applying for emergency work permits even where there is no emergency, which has resulted in a backlog and delay in processing regular applications for work and residence permits for deserving applicants. Ends