Sudan concerned about increasing brain drain

April 30, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s minister of human resources development and labor Ishraga Sayed Mahmoud has expressed concern about the increasing rates of Sudanese people leaving to work abroad saying it has exceeded the historical levels of migration.

Mahmoud revealed that more than 91,000 people left Sudan last year, including medical staff and highly qualified individuals which she attributed to the deteriorating economy and the high cost of living.

Sudan’s economy was hit hard since the southern part of the country declared independence in July 2011, taking with it about 75% of the country’s oil output.

The labor minister, who testified before the parliament on Tuesday, said that the immigrants included 1,620 physicians who were forced by lack of jobs and poor salaries to look for better opportunities abroad.

The Sudanese official further warned of a similar trend among university professors saying that this poses a direct threat to higher education.

She explained that 1,002 professors have left in 2012, 988 of whom went to Saudi Arabia, compared to only 21 in 2008.

According to the labor minister, the highest numbers of immigrants were recorded in the farming and grazing, animal breeding and fishing sectors which totaled 44,242, followed by 16,331 who worked as technicians.

The official noted that Saudi Arabia was the biggest recipient of Sudanese workers, followed by Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. She pointed out that Libya was the least accommodating country for Sudanese labor.

Ishraga revealed that her ministry is working on proposing changes to the labor law besides reviewing civil service regulations.

But the minister complained about lack of funding for the ministry, saying that 50% of the ministry’s budget is allocated to those studying abroad.

(ST)