If JIPSA (joint initiative on priority skills acquisition) is to succeed we need to bring in foreign skills to train up our people. This seems to be an accepted fact, unless you are Cosatu - "the importation of so-called scarce skills undermines the process of local skills development and transfer". This attitude has been described by Nazmeera Moola in the 3rd of November, 2006 issue of the FM, as a laager mentality - similar to US Republican Congressman.
The government has decided to ignore these uninformed ruminations and push ahead with the finishing touches to "business-friendly amendments to new immigration legislation, including scrapping the two-year limit imposed on skilled foreign staff."
This was the headline story in the Business Day on Friday. The two year limit was designed to force multinationals to pass on necessary skills. It hasn't worked - more time is needed and at last we'll get it; it's moved to four years. Greg Durst - Managing Director of Endeavor South Africa told me they wanted it to be five years. Four years is a great start.
It seems as though there is also a World Cup aspect to this bill, FIFA partners can now send their experts to South Africa almost immediately.
I think that of all the government's initiatives, JIPSA is the only one that is making serious headway.
Well done to the minister of home affairs, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula