FEATURED IN
Helen Frew, Executive Director at Permits Foundation, an international not-for-profit organisation advocating globally for direct work access for accompanying partners, says the sooner government acts, the better it will be for South Africa’s efforts to attract top international talent.
According to the Foundation’s research, over 94% of global mobility professionals agree that family members of highly-skilled foreign workers should be authorised to work in the host country directly once recognised as a dependant. More than 40 countries, including Canada, Ireland, Australia, the US, New Zealand, and most European Union and South American countries already allow direct employment access to categories of accompanying spouses/partners. Meanwhile, South Africa remains grouped with countries such as China, India, Turkey, Namibia and Botswana, where no such access exists.
Locally, support for reform is strong. In Xpatweb’s 2024 Critical Skills Survey, 96% of South African employers agreed that the spouse or partner of a Critical Skills Work Visa holder should be allowed to work in South Africa upon recognition of their dependent status.
Permits Foundation has identified South Africa as a priority country in its global advocacy efforts in 2025. “It is one of the destinations deemed by our network of employers to be the places they would most like to see change.”
Spouses or partners, who are also highly qualified in their own right with 88% having a bachelor’s degree or higher qualification, can try to apply for a work visa in South Africa but would need to give up their family member status. Authorisation is not a given. “You can see there are a lot of ifs and buts. Couples deciding together whether to move to South Africa have no assurance pre-move that both of them will be authorised to continue to work. Yet in other countries they know in advance.”
Frew warns these kinds of uncertainties put off a lot of talented people and make it harder for companies operating in South Africa to move and retain talent.
Permits Foundation has been advocating for change in South Africa since 2016, submitting evidence to the government on multiple occasions, including responses to the Green Paper on International Migration, the Draft Critical Skills List, and the White Paper on Citizenship. They are working with a range of stakeholders in country, and particularly Xpatweb, to share information and raise awareness of the importance of partner work access on an ongoing basis.
Why Work Rights for Partners Matter
The global race for talent is a top factor for why governments allow direct work access for partners.
According to Frew, dual-career couples are far less likely to relocate to a country where there is any doubt whether both of them can continue to work. Over 40% of global employers taking part in the Foundation’s study, reported that assignments were cut short because the partner cannot legally access employment.
In Xpatweb’s South Africa survey, more than half of respondents reported that employees in their organisation had turned down international assignments in the past three years due to partner employment concerns.
The Foundation’s research shows that where partner work authorisation is directly available, the benefits reach far and wide. Employee experience improves, families can better integrate and have more spending power, projects are less likely to be disrupted, the administrative burden is less, and visa procedures are streamlined.
Further supporting data:
- 67% of partners say dual income is essential;
- 56% report a negative impact on the partner’s mental health when not allowed to work;
- 44% of companies say assignments ended early due to partner employment issues.
“The solution is to authorise direct work access for accompanying spouses and partners of these highly-skilled international employees in clearly identified categories,” says Frew.
SA finally making strides
Marisa Jacobs, Managing Director at Xpatweb and Organised Business representative on the Minister of Home Affairs’ Immigration Advisory Board, welcomes a recent development that the department will consider a proposal about spousal work rights for Critical Skills Work Visa holders in companies recognised under the Trusted Employer Scheme (TES).
This undertaking followed a meeting on the TES hosted by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA).
She says this will make South Africa more attractive as a destination for global mobile talent, as almost 82% of Xpatweb’s respondents say that, during recruitment and onboarding of global professionals, several of their questions center around their partner’s ability to work in the host country.
A third of Permit Foundation’s sponsors operate in South Africa. Many are part of the TES and are in favour of measures enabling dual careers.
SA Can Copy the Ireland Success Story
Ireland started out by granting direct work access to Critical Skills Visa holders and later extended it. The Minister stated that the changes were to “…ensure that Ireland attracts those skilled workers who might not otherwise come to Ireland if their spouse or partner cannot work.”
Moreover, the EU Blue Card Directive states that favourable conditions for family reunification and access to work for spouses should be a fundamental element of the directive in order to better attract highly-qualified workers across the Member States.
Frew explains: “Many countries have chosen to adopt this type of policy as an agile way to address skills needs and gain additional fiscal contribution. Importantly, because of the small numbers, this has been achieved without seeing adverse impact on local jobs. The spouses themselves are often highly qualified in sectors where skills are needed.”
“It is fair to say that South Africa is at a disadvantage right now, but the good news is that South Africa could easily implement policy to rectify this. Considering a proposal in this regard, is a welcome step,” Frew concludes.
