South Africa: Consultation on Trusted Employer Scheme Pilot Program Launched
April 27, 2023
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At a Glance
- The Department of Home Affairs has launched a consultation process for the piloting of a Trusted Employer Scheme, which will enable eligible employers to utilize immigration processes with reduced administrative requirements and shorter processing times.
- To qualify for the scheme, businesses must be in a sector identified as having national importance or strategic priority and must meet other criteria as determined by the Department of Home Affairs.
- The consultation process will close on May 19, 2023, after which employers will be able to apply for the pilot program when the opening of the program is announced.
The situation
The Department of Home Affairs has announced a consultation process ahead of the launch of the piloting of the Trusted Employer Scheme (TES), after which employers will be able to apply for the pilot program.
A closer look
- Consultation deadline. Corporate entities operating in South Africa interested in providing feedback about the TES can submit their input online by May 19, 2023.
- Pilot program applications. After the consultation period ends, employers will be able to apply for the pilot program and the government will provide the outcome of membership applications not later than 60 days from the closing date of the application process.
- Eligibility criteria. Companies interested in joining the TES must score at least 80 points under the following criteria:
| Criteria | Allocated Points | Explanation |
| Pledge | 20 | Participating companies must have made an investment pledge or commitment in the annual South African Investment Conference. |
| Employment | 25 | Proof of employment of at least 500 employees in South Africa, of which 60% must be South African citizens or permanent residents. |
| Sector | 15 | The business operation must be in a sector identified by the Department of Trade and Industry and Competition as having national importance or strategic priority. |
| Skills transfer | 10 | Proof of a skills transfer program or graduate development program for South African citizens or permanent residents. |
| Enterprise size | 30 | The enterprise must have a minimum of 500 employees and minimum annual turnover of ZAR 35 million. |
Impact
Visa applications under the TES will be processed through the Premium Visa Applications Centres and One Stop Premium Lounges. Companies participating in the TES will benefit from streamlined work visa processing and reduced administrative requirements. Additionally, they will have a dedicated key account manager that is expected to handle members’ service delivery issues and provide policy advice.
Background
The TES was initially proposed in the 2017 White Paper on International Migration in South Africa as an innovative way of enforcing immigration law and as a government initiative to overhaul the South African immigration process to make the country an investment destination in Africa.
Looking ahead
Once the government publishes a notice about the application process opening date, employers will have up to 30 days to submit their TES application. The government has not stated the date of expected publication.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].
