Africa-Press – Lesotho. The Prime Minister (PM) Dr. Moeketsi Majoro has appealed to the factory workers and their unions to suspend the ongoing strike which commenced last week over the absence of minimum wage
gazette for 2020. This he said on Wednesday this week. Dr. Majoro also called on the disgruntled workers to “allow” publication of the minimum wage gazette.
He said the chaos at the factories is a sign of “dissatisfaction” of the workers and the trade unions. On Tuesday night, the factory workers took to streets and burnt tires and blocked the roads at
Thetsane. Reacting to the Premier’s speech, Lentsoe la Sechaba Workers’ Union Secretary General Monaheng Makaoane said the workers are adamant to downing tools until the gazette is
published adding that the government fails to keep to its promises. He also expressed fears that the textile industry faces “collapse” over the delays in deliveries
as the production has been interrupted by the strike. The PM has also formed a task force of Ministers who are working on this issue and they are the Minister of Small Businesses Development, Cooperatives and Marketing Chief
Thesele Maseribane, Minister of Tourism, Environment and Culture Advocate Lekhetho Rakuaoane, Minister of Labour and Employment Hon. Moshe Leoma, Minister of Public Service Hon.
Motlohi Maliehe and the Minister of Trade and Industry Dr. Thabiso Molapo. Hon. Maliehe, also Chairperson of the Ministerial ad hoc committee said on Tuesday that the task
team had held the consultative meetings with trade unions, employers unions and the Ministry of Labour and Employment staff. He said the purpose of the meetings was to understand the prevailing problem, hear the stakeholders’
views and find the solution to this impasse. Meanwhile the unions have expressed dismay over the deliberations saying that there was “nothing to write home about”.
The Minister said they had discussed the issue “robustly” adding that it has some legal challenges attached to it. One of the committee’s recommendations he said is that the
Ministry of Labour and Employment should engage the International Labour Organisation (ILO) for intervention and to advise all stakeholders about the minimum wage of 2020/2021.
This move, Maliehe said it will “strengthen social dialogue” and cooperation between the employers and employees while the minimum wage issue is receiving attention.
The PM said the gazette will be published on June 16 as the exercise soliciting public views over the minimum wages ends on June 14. Before the gazette is published, Wages
Advisory Board publishes a notice seeking the public’s opinion on the minimum wages before the Minister of Labour and Employment can sign the gazette. The textile industry is said to be the biggest employer in Lesotho after the government.
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