Government Strengthens Negotiation Capacity of Mandate Givers in Public Service

Government Secretary Mrs Teboho Mokela has emphasized the pivotal role of mandate givers in enhancing social dialogue and collective bargaining within Lesotho’s Public Service. She made the remarks while addressing ministers, principal secretaries, and senior government officials during a High-Level Training Session on Negotiation Skills for Mandate Givers held in Maseru. The session focused on equipping mandate givers with the skills needed to set strategic boundaries and guide agreements in collective bargaining processes.

Mrs Mokela explained that the training follows previous sensitization sessions conducted in October 2024 and April 2025 on implementing the Labour Relations (Public Service) Convention 151. These sessions were held after Lesotho ratified the Convention and enacted the Labour Act, 2024. She highlighted that significant progress has been achieved in institutionalizing social dialogue and collective bargaining in the public sector, including the establishment of the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) and the training of both employer and worker negotiation teams.

The Government Secretary encouraged participants to engage actively in practical exercises, role plays, and discussions to build a strong understanding of negotiation processes. The training aims to strengthen modern negotiation practices, effective communication skills, and the conduct of productive meetings. Mrs Mokela also expressed gratitude to the International Labour Organization for its financial and technical support, and congratulated the Honourable Minister of Public Service for organizing the training. She officially declared the session open, marking a step forward in professionalizing negotiation and promoting constructive dialogue in Lesotho’s Public Service.