The only way to solve the brain drain is for businesses to start investing in their employees, says Ian Macun of the Immigration Advisory Board (IAB).
Speaking at an IAB seminar in Cape Town on the emigration of professional and skilled workers from South Africa, he said countries that received good foreign investment had a strong human resource base.
”Investment increasingly follows human resources. For the long-term viability of South Africa, we are going to have to build a stronger human resource base,” he said.
The most highly-skilled workers tended to relocate for higher wages, or better opportunities for development.
”They move so that they can develop, that is a natural thing,” he said.
They also left because of social conditions.
However, the latest census showed government was making progress on improving social conditions, he said.
”Investing in workers is expensive, but it is a fairly straightforward solution,” he said. – Sapa