THE SOCIAL PROTECTION OF MIGRANT WORKERS IN SOUTH AFRICA

- ILO / SAMAT Policy Paper No. 3
By Elaine Fultz with Bodhi Pieris
International Labour Organization (Harare, Zimbabwe, 1997)
Southern Africa Multidisciplinary Advisory Team (ILO / SAMAT)

Table of contents

Acknowledgements

Preface

Introduction

Chapter I. South Africa's social benefit package

Chapter II. South Africa's social benefit package for migrants
a. Benefits prior to March 1996: the two-gate system
b. Recent changes
c. Concerns of migrants and their representatives

(l) The risks of retrenchment
(2) Disability and old age
(3) Ineligibility at home resulting from work abroad
(4) Workers compensation: administrative barriers

Chapter III. Policy directions
a. The case for change
b. Possible directions for change

(1) Benefit improvements through governmental agreements.

(i) Reciprocity
(ii) Political linkages
(iii) Regional integration

(2) Benefit improvements through unilateral government action

(i) Shaping protection to meet South African objectives
(ii) Improving existing schemes
(iii) Contributory financing

Conclusion

Appendices
Individuals and Organizations Interviewed I
Estimated Numbers of Migrants II

ILO/SAMAT Policy Paper Series
1- Labour Standards in Export Processing Zones: A Southern African Perspective, 1996
2- Shaping A Labour Market Based Training Policy for Lesotho, 1997
3- The Social Protection of Migrant Workers in South Africa, 1997

For further information, please contact the ILO Office at Pretoria at Tel: +27.12.341.2170, Fax: +27.12.341.2159 or by E-mail: pretoria@ilo.org