The effects of restrictive South African migrant labor policy on the survival of rural households in southern Africa : a case study from rural Swaziland

TitleThe effects of restrictive South African migrant labor policy on the survival of rural households in southern Africa : a case study from rural Swaziland
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication1997
AuthorsA.H.M. Leliveld
Secondary TitleWorld development
Volume25
Issue11
Pagination1839 - 1849
Date Published1997///
Publication Languageeng
KeywordsAfrica, labour law, labour migration, rural households, South Africa, Swaziland
Abstract

Confronted with high unemployment figures and widespread poverty among the black population, one of the priorities of the first postapartheid government of South Africa has been to combat poverty among its population by enlarging employment opportunities. It is generally accepted that this policy will have a large impact on the number of foreigners called to work in South Africa. By taking Swaziland, where data were collected in 1990, as a case study, this article investigates the impact on the capacity of Swazi rural households to survive, if the possibility for international labour migration should become constrained. The paper first investigates whether common socioeconomic characteristics can be identified among homesteads whose survival is threatened. Next, it investigates the possibilities and constraints for returning migrants to find employment in Swaziland. In the final section, conclusions are presented on the prospects of Swazi rural households to survive without migrant labour to South Africa. The main finding is that in the short run relatively 'young' households, with few working members and a weak economic position in the local rural economy, are among the most vulnerable. In the long run the survival of most Swazi households with migrants in South Africa is at stake. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum

IR handle/ Full text URLhttp://hdl.handle.net/1887/12009
Citation Key558