A/HRC/17/33/Add.4 in addressing the needs of these communities, in particular their access to water and sanitation and the delivery of social services, such as health and education. 45. The Special Rapporteur believes that serious incidents that took place throughout the country in 2008 and 2009 demonstrate the need to develop a comprehensive immigration policy at a regional level, and that the absence of such a policy will only exacerbate existing tensions with the different communities, which could escalate into violence once again. B. Lack of data and statistics 46. The Special Rapporteur expressed concern at the absence of thorough data and statistics concerning not only the migrants present in the country but also the needs of the labour market and demand for the services of migrant workers. 47. The Special Rapporteur noted the difficulties in the collection and analysis of data and statistics relating to migration. On many occasions, existing administrative data and disaggregated statistics were not available or up to date. Data on the entry and exit of foreigners and on residence permits, among other types of information, were difficult to update, although new databases were being integrated into the Department of Home Affairs management system. Beyond the efforts to compile more thorough data on the entry and exit of migrants, a clear distinction should be made between immigration control and crime prevention. 48. The Special Rapporteur noted that other departments, especially those in charge of the labour market and those providing social services, had not collected data systematically and comprehensively, and that statistics on labour demand remained unavailable. The Special Rapporteur was also informed that general population surveys and censuses were conducted at intervals that were too distant and that the questions asked relating to labour and migration issues were not collected during them. 49. The Special Rapporteur believes that only with clear and disaggregated statistics will the South African authorities be able to have a clearer picture of their foreign population and the needs of migrant workers for their economy, and be able to make plans accordingly. 50. The absence of data was particularly relevant when the Special Rapporteur was informed on several occasions that foreign workers, especially Zimbabweans, accept employment for lower wages and longer working hours, in conditions often in contradiction with labour laws, and that labour brokers and contractors tend to give preference to these groups to the detriment of nationals, who are already faced with high unemployment and the effects of the economic crisis. These allegations could not, however, be corroborated by clear and concise evidence owing to the absence of relevant data and statistics. The Special Rapporteur reiterates the need to document labour migration in the different sectors of the economy with data and statistics, so that the real situation can be identified and to ensure compliance with labour laws and standards. 51. The Special Rapporteur encourages measures at the regional level, such as within SADC, in order to measure statistics on the labour demand, which is the driving force behind economic migration, and to better regulate the supply of labour migrants with the needs of the region. This will help to identify current and projected labour supply shortages and surpluses by economic sector, occupation, region and province, and differentiate between labour shortages that are structural from those that are seasonal or otherwise temporary, which is crucial for the design and implementation of effective labour migration policies. 12