According to a report by Lesotho local media Metro on January 7, employers in the textile and clothing industry in Lesotho may face serious boycotts and lawsuits if they forcibly fire employees who have not been vaccinated. Previously, Lesotho Prime Minister Majorro said that all public and private sector employers should ensure that all their employees are vaccinated against the new coronavirus.
The National Clothing, Textile and Allied Industries Union (NACTWU) has warned that forcing employees to get vaccinated and firing those who do not want to be vaccinated is a violation of human rights. “We agree and encourage people to get vaccinated, but at the same time believe that no one should be forced. We will take legal action against any employer in the industry who fires employees who do not take the vaccine.”
The textile and clothing industry is Lesotho’s largest source of employment, employing more than 40,000 workers. Affected by the epidemic and supply chain disruptions, a large number of jobs have been lost, and old textile factories such as Nianxing International have also closed down. Continued layoffs at factories mean the country’s already sluggish economy will continue to decline.
At the same time, the Lesotho Textile Exporters Association expressed appreciation for the government’s decision, believing that textile factories employ a large number of workers and if workers are not vaccinated, the industry will become One of the industries with the highest infection rates in Lesotho.
