Lesotho Promotes Ethical Manufacturing To Revive Textile Sector
The Lesotho National Development Corporation (LNDC), in partnership with the Competitiveness and Financial Inclusion (CAFI) project, hosted a two-day WRAP (Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production) Technical Training to promote ethical and sustainable practices in the country’s struggling textile and apparel industry.
Held at Avani Maseru, the training was led by WRAP experts Bart Seliger, Subburaja Ayyasamy, and Vinay Saxena, and aimed to help local factories meet global social compliance standards.
Minister of Trade, Industry and Business Development, Mokhethi Shelile, emphasized WRAP certification as a symbol of ethical manufacturing, fair labour, and environmental responsibility. He noted that the textile sector employs over 32,000 people, 92% of Lesotho’s manufacturing workforce and remains vital to the economy.
Shelile warned of ongoing global challenges including inflation, rising supply chain costs, and U.S. trade tariffs, which have led to reduced orders from international buyers. He stressed the need for Lesotho to compete with regional and global textile hubs by adopting higher standards and diversifying sourcing strategies.
LNDC is actively engaging with WRAP leadership and reaffirming its commitment to ESG principles and combating Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in workplaces.
CAFI Project Manager, Chaba Mokuku, highlighted Lesotho’s economic vulnerability and called for building a sustainable textile ecosystem that fosters compliance, attracts investment, and creates jobs.
