The majority of work permit holders were males 10,760 (77.5 percent), which continues to show male dominance in the expatriate working population. Compared to the previous quarter, work permit holders went up by 1,462 persons (11.8 percent) as the number of expatriates continued to increase in Botswana, particularly  from neighbouring Zimbabwe, which is currently going through a socio-political crisis.
The CSO figures indicate that Zimbabweans recorded the highest number of employee work permit holders with 5,470 persons (58.8 percent), followed by Chinese with 898 persons (9.7 percent). The least were Ghanaians with 61 persons (0.7 percent).
With a population of over 1.5 billion in their home country, Chinese traders have established businesses in many parts of Africa, the majority of them importers of cheap commodities.
“For self-employed work permit holders, the Chinese dominated with 937 persons (20.4 percent), followed by Indians with 863 persons (18.8 percent). Overall, (the) majority of employee work permit holders are aged 25 to 44 years, accounting for 7,069 (76.1 percent). Self-employed permit holders, also aged 25 to 44 years, contributed high numbers 3,008 (65.5 percent),” says the CSO.
According to the figures, most employees holding work permits were engaged in agriculture (2,499 or 26.9 percent) followed by construction (1,518 or 16.3 percent), while real estate and manufacturing recorded 1,279 (13.8 percent) and 1,180 (12.7 percent) persons respectively.
Wholesale & Retail Trade was the dominant activity for self-employed work permit holders with 1,283 persons (27.9 percent) followed by Real Estate with 1,155 persons (25.1 percent). The least was Mining and Quarrying with 5 persons (0.1 percent). Males dominated in both work permit types except for Private Households.
Elementary occupations recorded the highest numbers of new work permit holders with 2,384 persons (27.0 percent). The second highest occupation group was Technicians with 1,466 persons (16.6 percent), while Professionals and Craft Workers recorded 1,434 (16.3 percent) and 1,359 persons (15.4 percent) persons respectively.
Recently, Monitor reported that over 150 experts were either refused work permits or failed to have their contracts renewed. Most of the affected were Chinese and Indians.
According to Monitor investigations, the register of applicants shows a list of engineers, site engineers, company directors, IT experts, technicians and other specialised skills people who have had their applications rejected.
But the register also shows that a certain construction company was awarded over 100 work permits for bricklayers and carpenters, skills reserved for Batswana.
A source revealed that though Botswana is struggling to lure investors, some company directors were refused work and residence permits after being allowed to open businesses. – mmegionline