Dear Portfolio Committee on Employment and Labour,

I am writing as a resident of Bezuidenhout Valley, Johannesburg, to formally submit my public comments on the Employment Services Amendment Bill [B16–2026].

I strongly oppose any provisions or interpretations within the Bill that allow asylum seekers, refugees, or non-critical foreign nationals access to the South African job market while our domestic unemployment rate remains critical. The South African government must prioritize and protect employment opportunities for its citizens above all else.

Key Points and Concerns:

1. Priority for South African Citizens:
Allowing foreign nationals to compete in the local job market while millions of qualified South Africans remain unemployed is unjust. Government policy must put citizens first in all employment sectors.

2. Restriction to Scarce and Critical Skills Only:
Employment of foreign nationals must be strictly limited to individuals who entered the country legally and possess verified, scarce skills that cannot be sourced locally. Employers must be subjected to strict verification to prove no citizen is available before hiring a non-citizen.

3. Addressing Economic Migration through Asylum Channels:
There is deep concern regarding individuals migrating from non-conflict regions across the globe who pass through multiple peaceful transit countries before entering South Africa. The asylum process is being misused for economic entry, creating unsustainable pressure on our domestic labor market and public infrastructure.

Proposed Recommendations:
- Enforce strict sectoral quotas limiting foreign labor across all industries.
- Explicitly exclude asylum seekers and non-critical migrants from entry-level and general labor sectors.
- Mandate strict proof of local recruitment efforts prior to issuing authorization for foreign employment.

Thank you for considering my submission. I wish to be notified of any upcoming public hearings regarding this Bill.