LNDC campaign continues to progress
MOSA MAOENG
MAPUTSOE – The Lesotho National Development Corporation (LNDC)’s drive to open firms and ease employment continued to pay off with another smaller firm – Joans Enterprise growing from 180 employees to 700. The para-statal and the firm celebrated the growth last Friday in Maputsoe with the LNDC chair and Trade minister present.
The firm started as a Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) employing 180 Basotho, and grew to employing 700 this year to give more Basotho a chance at a job through the assistance of the (LNDC).
Joans Enterprise specializes in school shirts, mechanic suits as well as a supply lines for The Foschini Group fashion clothing such as Jet and Foschini to mention a few. During the expansion held last week Friday, LNDC Interim CEO Molise Ramaili highlighted that sometime last year Ace Apparel faced a closure bringing a challenge of unemployment to so many Basotho.
The worstcase scenario was its closure during the Christmas holidays where employees would have been left without their salaries crucial during the festive time. Ramaili mentioned that they sat down and figured a way out.
He said they approached Joans Enterprise bringing along investors from South Africa noting to them that Basotho are experts in sewing and are always ready to do a great job. He said if it were not for Basotho’s hard work, investors would not stay and would have searched for market elsewhere.
“We promised investors to give them a firm that will do a great job and in return we pleaded with them to give the same firm work so as to grow. This is a huge change in terms of opening factories to see to it that Basotho are employed through this campaign,” he said.
Ramaili highlighted that their journey with the investors and Joans was a success as the factory grew from 180 employees to 350 and now it has employed 700 Basotho.
He noted that the management has informed that they have not stopped employing and it is their wish to expand once again and employ more Basotho. He said the issue of expansion is important especially in factories adding they attract investors emphasizing the importance of sustaining factory jobs.
“We are already selecting another factory that was called CMT where Joans Enterprise will expand and be able to employ 700 more Basotho. The issue of opening factories has been taken into serious consideration and this will go a long way so that Basotho are employed. I urge workers and management to continue working hard, as the LNDC we will continue supporting them and where they have challenges we are ready to solve them together so that the factory stays sustainable,” he said.
Trade Minister Mokhethi Shelile noted that there are challenges such as unemployment which lead to Basotho leaving the country and seeking work elsewhere. He said one example was the sudden closure of the Ace apparel which left many factory workers stranded without work. The minister was appreciative Joans came along and assisted.
He urged workers to work hard all time and to be a part of unions because the ministry of trade and the ministry of labour usually work together with unions.
He said the government is waiting for tariffs announcement at least until September after doing all the necessary requirements to be a part of the Southern African countries that can work with the United States in terms of market.
He also spoke about the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) which he cautioned will be ending adding that government is working towards finding tariffs agreement that does not exceed 10 percent to enable for market access in USA.
Shelile also noted that the government is in search of alternative market access in other countries. He also exchanged a vote of thanks to Joans Management for their efforts to continue employing Basotho and alleviating high unemployment rate.
Joans Enterprise Cutting Room Manager Manoj Rooplall exchanged a vote of thanks to the ministry for assisting with the building so that the company could grow and increase employment.
He said they look forward to the future growth with the support of the Lesotho government in the textile industry. He likewise thanked customers, and stakeholders.
Joans Enterprise, Floor Manager Selinah Mpakathe added that for a firm which commenced as an SME with only 180 employees, moving to 700 by March this year is a huge step and it is promising for many other Basotho in terms of employment opportunities.
She noted with appreciation the Management for continuing to search for investors to create jobs in Lesotho. ‘Makatleho Mothae an employee highlighted that she was an employee at Ace Apparel and was part of those who were retrenched. She noted that through Joans Enterprise she is now back to work. She hoped more factories will be opened so that those on queues outside also receive the opportunity to be able to feed their families as employees.
