N$140 million migration policy launched
Migration policy complimentary to labour policy
The policy highlights gaps and recommends strategies to enable Namibia to improve migration management.
The home affairs and immigration ministry has launched a national migration policy that will be implemented at a cost of N$140 million over five years.
Deputy minister, Daniel Kashikola, said the policy will serve as a guiding document to guide a well-planned migration management plan and its incorporation into national development strategies and plans.
"The profile identified several migration issues, policy gaps, and options that served as guides in the development of the migration policy, which we are launching today."
The migration profile identified migration, policy and institutional frameworks as key focus areas.
Complimentary policy
Along with Cabinet's decision to approve the policy, it also approved the creation of a national committee on migration management, which will oversee its implementation.
"It must thus be noted that the national migration policy for Namibia and the Namibian labour migration policy will be complimentary to each other," he said.
According to Kashikola, the committee started its work in late 2018, and in June 2019, it presented the first draft for validation.
The policy highlights gaps and recommends strategies to enable Namibia to improve migration management and apply it to advance its development goals.
Undocumented protection
Namibia has no blanket provision in place to cater for stateless people – neither in its constitution nor in its Namibian citizenship legislation.
The policy will amend relevant laws related to stateless persons and will adopt general protection strategies for children born in the country without any other nationality.
According to Kashikola, the documents on the rights of migrants are still being drafted.
"The idea that migrants come to steal jobs in Namibia should be healed. Migrants come with skills, and I hope this policy that has given us guidelines will lead us to appreciate the skills being brought to this country," he said.
Deputy minister, Daniel Kashikola, said the policy will serve as a guiding document to guide a well-planned migration management plan and its incorporation into national development strategies and plans.
"The profile identified several migration issues, policy gaps, and options that served as guides in the development of the migration policy, which we are launching today."
The migration profile identified migration, policy and institutional frameworks as key focus areas.
Complimentary policy
Along with Cabinet's decision to approve the policy, it also approved the creation of a national committee on migration management, which will oversee its implementation.
"It must thus be noted that the national migration policy for Namibia and the Namibian labour migration policy will be complimentary to each other," he said.
According to Kashikola, the committee started its work in late 2018, and in June 2019, it presented the first draft for validation.
The policy highlights gaps and recommends strategies to enable Namibia to improve migration management and apply it to advance its development goals.
Undocumented protection
Namibia has no blanket provision in place to cater for stateless people – neither in its constitution nor in its Namibian citizenship legislation.
The policy will amend relevant laws related to stateless persons and will adopt general protection strategies for children born in the country without any other nationality.
According to Kashikola, the documents on the rights of migrants are still being drafted.
"The idea that migrants come to steal jobs in Namibia should be healed. Migrants come with skills, and I hope this policy that has given us guidelines will lead us to appreciate the skills being brought to this country," he said.
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