Govt ratifies Convention 151 to enhance labour relations

MOSA MAOENG

MASERU – The Government has taken a significant step toward enhancing labour relations within the public service by heeding the call of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to ratify Convention 151. This ratification marks the government’s commitment to improving the labour relations climate, a move that was highlighted by Minister of Public Service, Mputi Stephen Mputi, during a sensitisation workshop for Cabinet Ministers and Principal Secretaries.

The workshop, held to discuss the implementation of Labour Relations (Public Service) Convention 1978 (No. 151), provided a platform for understanding how the convention could transform the public service. Lesotho’s decision to ratify this convention in March 2023 signified a critical juncture in its labour policy history. The convention aims to foster sound labour administration within the public service, ensuring that the rights of workers are respected and upheld.

Mputi said this is part of a long journey that Lesotho embarked on 58 years ago when it ratified two pivotal conventions: the Freedom of Association and the Right to Organise Convention 1948 (No. 87); and the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention 1949 (No. 98).

These conventions were among the first steps toward protecting ‘rights in Lesotho, although they did not apply to senior government officials.“As policymakers at the apex of decision-making in this country, our commitment is crucial to advancing initiatives that promote social dialogue and collective bargaining within the public service,” Mputi said.

He said Principal Secretaries, as the chief accounting officers in their respective ministries, play a key role in driving policy implementation. Understanding the importance of sound labour relations is, therefore, essential to ensuring that these reforms take root.

The minister expressed hope that the workshop would help attendees appreciate the principles embodied in the convention, which could foster a more harmonious working environment in the public sector. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has been a key player in this initiative, providing technical guidance and support to the Lesotho government. Alexio Musindo, Director of the ILO Pretoria Office, also addressed the workshop, saying that the ILO’s primary goal is to advocate for social justice and decent work for all.

Musindo said decent work encompasses productive employment opportunities, fair wages, workplace security, and social protection for workers and their families. The ILO’s approach to development is rooted in international labour standards that span the entire life cycle of an individual—from maternity and family care to retirement and pensions.

Musindo elaborated on how various conventions safeguard the rights of workers at every stage of their lives. For example, the Maternity Protection Convention (C183) ensures that pregnant women and new mothers receive paid maternity leave, protection from dismissal, and access to healthcare. The Workers with Family Responsibilities Convention (C156) offers protections that allow both men and women to balance their work and caregiving responsibilities. These conventions, alongside others like those targeting child labour, set the foundation for a fair and equitable labour market.

Musindo reiterated the ILO’s commitment to promoting youth employment, particularly through initiatives such as the Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth and the AU Youth Employment Strategy. As workers progress through their careers, Musindo noted, the ILO’s Decent Work Agenda guarantees fair wages, safe working conditions, and equal opportunities.

These standards are designed to support collective bargaining and the right to unionize—key elements of the Labour Relations (Public Service) Convention 1978 (No. 151). Prime Minister Samuel Matekane, addressing the workshop, highlighted the government’s commitment to fully implementing Convention 151.

He acknowledged that while there had initially been concerns about the implications of social dialogue and collective bargaining within the public service, technical specialists had successfully dispelled these fears. The government, he assured attendees, is now fully on board and dedicated to institutionalising these processes across the public sector.

“The implementation process will run smoothly because all responsible parties are aligned with the principles of the Labour Relations (Public Service) Convention,” the Prime Minister said. He added that reaching out to the ILO for technical support demonstrates the government’s seriousness about improving labour relations in Lesotho. The support of international bodies like the ILO provides a robust framework within which Lesotho can build a more just and equitable public service.