A wave of relief and victory swept through the Adient factory in Lesotho, one of the country’s many textile manufacturing hubs, as workers celebrated a significant triumph secured by their union, the Independent Democratic Union of Lesotho (IDUL).
Lesotho’s textile industry, a cornerstone of the nation’s economy, employs tens of thousands, largely producing apparel for export to markets like the United States under trade agreements such as the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
Factories like Adient, often foreign-owned, have historically paid low wages, with many workers earning the national minimum wage of around M2,150 per month, a figure that barely covers basic living costs in the country.
IDUL Secretary General, May Rathakane, announced this week that, starting April 1, 2025, Adient employees will see their paychecks rise to over M4,000, a substantial increase won through hard-fought negotiations. This leap almost doubles the typical wage in Lesotho’s textile sector, where workers, predominantly women, often toil long hours in demanding conditions to stitch garments for global brands.
Rathakane emphasised that the gains extend beyond wages: male workers will now enjoy paid paternity leave, while their female colleagues will receive fully paid maternity leave. Additionally, each worker will be granted five days of paid family responsibility leave annually.
The breakthrough follows intense discussions between IDUL, which represents the majority of Adient’s workforce, and factory management.
“This is a direct result of the workers’ unwavering support,” Rathakane declared, expressing deep gratitude for their solidarity during negotiations. The victory marks a rare win in an industry where unions have struggled to counter the power of factory owners, who often cite global competition as justification for keeping wages low.
IDUL has pledged to build on this momentum, with plans to release a detailed report next week on ongoing wage talks at another textile firm in Maputsoe, Leribe, a district known for its cluster of garment factories.
Rathakane said the union is also engaging with other plants across Lesotho’s industrial landscape, promising to extend its advocacy to the roughly 36,000 textile workers nationwide.
These efforts come as the sector faces scrutiny for its labour practices, with wages in some factories dipping as low as M1,800 per month for entry-level positions, despite the industry generating significant foreign exchange for the country.
“However, the shadow of the national minimum wage issue looms large,” Rathakane noted. Workers across the country’s textile factories are anxiously awaiting the government’s decision on a new minimum wage order, which could set a higher baseline for all industries.
The Labour Department has yet to convene the necessary meeting to finalise this adjustment. In the meantime, Rathakane urged workers at other factories, where union presence is often weaker, to organise collectively and bring their employers to the negotiating table.
Ntsoaki Motaung is an award-winning health journalist from Lesotho, specializing in community health stories with a focus on sexual and reproductive health and rights, as well as HIV. She has contributed to platforms like “Be in the KNOW,” highlighting issues such as the exclusion of people with disabilities from HIV prevention efforts in Lesotho.
In addition to her journalism, Ntsoaki serves as the Country Coordinator for the Regional Media Action Plan Support Network (REMAPSEN). She is also a 2023 CPHIA Journalism Fellow.
