NEW CRITICAL SKILLS LIST BETTER THAN EXPECTED! (For possible updates after the publishing of this article, kindly contact our team for further advice.)
In a surprise move, the Minister of Home Affairs signed a new critical skills list on 2 February. At first glance, the list is fairly comprehensive, and in this final version many of the public comments made in response to the earlier draft of 2021 have thankfully been taken into consideration. Whilst some very niche categories have been removed, broader ones have been added that will open up opportunities for skilled persons in a variety of fields.
Key skills retained
Corporate General Manager
Contact Centre positions (foreign language speakers as consultants,
Key skills added
Teachers in STEM subjects (grade 8 and older)
Various management roles, including:
Director
Programme or Project Manager
R&D Manager
Business Development Manager
Various finance roles (e.g. Investment Analyst, Internal Auditor, Forensic Accountant)
Economist
Tax Professional
Key Skills Removed
Doctors and medical practitioners
Nurse (replaced by Nurse Educator)
Pharmacist
PhD holders (unless they are senior university lecturers or higher)
Some changes to the required qualification levels will have to be tested in practice, as will be the accessibility and cooperation of relevant professional bodies.
For more information and advice on whether you or your staff fit into one of the new categories, please contact our team, we are at your disposal as always.