Analysis of ramifications of migration and xenophobia in Africa: review of economic potentials, skills of migrants and related policies in South Africa.

Abstract

Globalization, economic difficulties, rising ethnic and cultural diversity are the inevitable results of immigration. Budding immigration indicates that a growing number of countries are becoming more multi-ethnic, and challenged with accommodating persons of diverse beliefs, races, creeds, and languages. Nonetheless, the 2030 Agenda for Development that is Sustainable identifies transcontinental immigration as a multi-faceted reality of vital significance and allows for the progression of nation-states of origin, transit, and destination. Despite the indication that migrants can provide support in developing the host country as evidenced by Europe, USA, and Australia amongst others, there are still doubts if immigrants are adding to South Africa‟s economic vitality, thereby fuelling negative sentiments and xenophobic attacks from host indigenes. The belief in a hierarchical world by host communities raises challenges and complications and this is entrenched in competition over limited resources. Furthermore, the perception by host countries that foreigners only take advantage of the labor market and welfare services without contributing to the country influences policies and public attitude towards them. This paper reviews contemporary economic issues from an integration paradigm, and the approach taken was a desktop method and content analysis for the discussion and analysis. The analysis shows the inability of some businesses and specialized councils to differentiate between the Refugee Act and the Immigration Act. Moreover, this contributes to the restrictive dynamics that asylum seekers and refugees face when seeking employment opportunities. These challenges also affect refugees with refugee status and refugee ID‟s. This article posits, that to encourage reverence for diversity and multiculturalism, combating adverse labels and half-truths concerning foreigners, there is a need for an explicit and detailed policy and tactics addressing migration, discrimination, and assimilation by the South African government. In addition to this, it is imperative that the policy framework must have an unambiguous description of duties for the application of its constituent aspects as related to trade unions, employers, government entities and other organizations.