Workers seek Rantšo ouster

SEKHONYANA THEKO

MASERU – A coalition of workers’ trade unions have called for labour minister, Keketso Rantšo, to be removed from office with immediate effect for incompetency.

The trade unions, National Clothing Textile and Allied Workers Union (NACTWU), United Textile Employees (UNITE), Independent Democratic Union of Lesotho (IDUL), Lentsoe la Sechaba Workers Union (LESWU) and the Lesotho Workers Association (LEWA) made the announcement today in Maseru.

The trade unions argue they had demanded a 20 percent hike for the textile employees and 17 percent for other sectors as increment across the board for the 2020/2021 fiscal year as to address workers subsistence needs and to also earn above the poverty line as far as Lesotho’s economy is concerned, a move they say was thwarted by the minister.

In his remarks NACTWU secretary general, Sam Mokhele, also noted among others that “the condition of employment under minimum wages is discriminatory on the issue of maternity leave which is against the constitution of Lesotho, the Labour Code Order and International labour standards; and despite the fact that we have been complaining about to no avail and such employees particularly in textile are still under redress.”

Mokhele contends minister Rantšo has instead recommended for workers to earn below inflation rate, adding “this showcases she is naïve to head the ministry. We as workers are saying the incumbent minister must resign from this ministry because her works showcases that she is incompetent and inexperienced. There is no progress in her ministry; we are victims of her dreadful administration.”