Ministry of Public Service Holds Stakeholder Workshop on Public Service Relations with ILO Support

The Ministry of Public Service, in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), is currently hosting a three-day stakeholder workshop on public service relations in Lesotho. The workshop, which resumed on Monday in Maseru, aims to enhance understanding and cooperation on various labor-related issues within the public sector.

In her official opening remarks, Mrs. ‘Makhoabane Lelimo, the Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Public Service, expressed her gratitude to the ILO for both their financial and physical support of the workshop. She acknowledged that the ILO has been instrumental in equipping Lesotho with valuable insights, knowledge, and expertise on labor relations, a partnership that has been pivotal in advancing the country’s approach to worker rights.

Mrs. Lelimo also took a moment to reflect on Lesotho’s commitment to protecting workers’ rights, noting that 58 years ago, the country made a historic decision to ratify key conventions aimed at safeguarding workers’ freedoms. She highlighted the importance of two major conventions: the Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining, Convention 87 of 1948, and the Right to Organize and Collective Bargaining, Convention 1949. These conventions were designed to ensure labor rights for all workers, with an emphasis on promoting the right to organize and engage in collective bargaining.

However, Mrs. Lelimo pointed out an important distinction in the application of these conventions. While the 1949 Convention extends the right to organize and participate in collective bargaining to most workers, it specifically excludes senior government officials involved in the administration of the state. This nuance, she explained, is a critical aspect of the ongoing discussions in the workshop as it addresses the complexities of labor rights within the public sector.

The workshop is a part of broader efforts by the Ministry of Public Service to strengthen labor relations, improve the welfare of public service workers, and enhance the overall functioning of the public sector. Through this collaboration with the ILO, Lesotho is continuing to build a robust framework for workers’ rights and effective labor relations, paving the way for a more inclusive and fair labor environment in the country.