Lesotho - 2011

Population: 2,000,000
Capital: Maseru
No new developments were reported for Lesotho. Normal trade union activities are difficult to carry out despite some legal guarantees.
ILO Core Conventions Ratified:
29 Forced Labour (1930) 87 Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise (1948) 98 Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining (1949) 100 Equal Remuneration for Work of Equal Value (1951) 105 Abolition of Forced Labour (1957) 111 Discrimination in Employment and Occupation (1958) 138 Minimum Age for Employment (1973) 182 Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention (1999)

reported violations - 2011

Murders: none reported
Attempted Murders: none reported
Threats: none reported
Injuries: none reported
Arrests: none reported
Imprisonments: none reported
Dismissals: none reported
Documented violations - actual number of cases may be higher

Background

Poverty remains deep and widespread, with the United Nations describing 40% of the population as “ultra-poor”. It ranks 141st place on the Human Development Index. The “Toxic Jeans” series, which highlighted the unintended consequences of efforts to stimulate trade with Africa, showed the pollution caused by the Nien Hsing denim factory in Lesotho and the dangers it posed to the local population, particularly the children.
ILO Core Conventions Ratified:
29 Forced Labour (1930) 87 Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise (1948) 98 Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining (1949) 100 Equal Remuneration for Work of Equal Value (1951) 105 Abolition of Forced Labour (1957) 111 Discrimination in Employment and Occupation (1958) 138 Minimum Age for Employment (1973) 182 Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention (1999)
Population: 2,000,000
Capital: Maseru

reported violations- 2011

Documented violations - actual number of cases may be higher

Trade union rights in law

Although the law allows unions to conduct their activities without interference, high thresholds and restrictive provisions make such work difficult. Workers have the right to form and join trade unions, expect for public employees, who can only form or join “associations” that have consultative status. Moreover, union activities are hampered by requirements that only registered unions that represent more than 35% of the employees are entitled to elect workplace union representatives and have access to the workplace to communicate with management and perform other union functions. Finally, a strike strike The most common form of industrial action, a strike is a concerted stoppage of work by employees for a limited period of time. Can assume a wide variety of forms.

See general strike, intermittent strike, rotating strike, sit-down strike, sympathy strike, wildcat strike can only be called following very complicated procedures, and all strikes in the public sector are illegal by definition.
Additional information regarding the legislation
ILO Core Conventions Ratified:
29 Forced Labour (1930) 87 Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise (1948) 98 Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining (1949) 100 Equal Remuneration for Work of Equal Value (1951) 105 Abolition of Forced Labour (1957) 111 Discrimination in Employment and Occupation (1958) 138 Minimum Age for Employment (1973) 182 Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention (1999)
Population: 2,000,000
Capital: Maseru

reported violations - 2011

Documented violations - actual number of cases may be higher

In practice

No legal strikes: Because the strike strike The most common form of industrial action, a strike is a concerted stoppage of work by employees for a limited period of time. Can assume a wide variety of forms.

See general strike, intermittent strike, rotating strike, sit-down strike, sympathy strike, wildcat strike procedure is complicated, there have not been any official strikes in the country for many years. There have been regular spontaneous protest actions over the years, however. As these are technically defined as illegal, workers continue to risk losing their jobs and being taken to court.
Mixed picture in the textile factories: The late General Secretary of the International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers’ Federation (ITGLWF), Neil Kearney, speaking in October 2009, noted that despite the problems in Lesotho’s apparel industry, progress has been made. There have been significant improvements in unionised factories such as Precious Garments, where efforts have been made to develop regular dialogue and negotiation between representatives of workers and management. Serious workers’ rights problems still persist in non-unionised factories however. The textile and garment industry is almost the sole source of manufacturing employment in Lesotho.
Legislation not enforced: The country has a poor record on respecting trade union rights. In the private sector, the complex procedures and employers’ anti-union attitude make it very difficult to operate a trade union. Although the law prohibits anti-union discrimination anti-union discrimination Any practice that disadvantages a worker or a group of workers on grounds of their past, current or prospective trade union membership, their legitimate trade union activities, or their use of trade union services. Can constitute dismissal, transfer, demotion, harassment and the like.

See Guide to the ITUC international trade union rights framework

 , many employers still stop union organisers from entering factory premises to organise workers or represent them in disputes. In some cases, employers intimidate union organisers and members, threatening the latter with dismissal, particularly in domestic industries.
ILO Core Conventions Ratified:
29 Forced Labour (1930) 87 Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise (1948) 98 Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining (1949) 100 Equal Remuneration for Work of Equal Value (1951) 105 Abolition of Forced Labour (1957) 111 Discrimination in Employment and Occupation (1958) 138 Minimum Age for Employment (1973) 182 Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention (1999)
Population: 2,000,000
Capital: Maseru

reported violations - 2011

Documented violations - actual number of cases may be higher
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