ILO Better Work Programme

The visit to Lesotho was in response to the activities initiated by the ILO Better Work Programme, which has chosen Lesotho as the first country in Africa where the programme will be implemented. The launch of the programme was on the 2nd of December 2010. Prior to the launch the Better Work programme team had embarked on a series of activities exploring and discussing the nature of the programme and what shape it would take for Lesotho, as well as its implementation.

Women Working Worldwide Conference on Garment Industry

Earlier in the year Women Working Worldwide had also started a process, engaging possible partners in Lesotho with the aim of exploring priority areas for support. Lesotho Clothing and Allied Workers Union – LECAWU - took the lead in this process with the assistance of International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers' Federation - ITGLWF- Africa. An international workshop, which was organised with ITGLWF-Africa, was held in Durban in April, bringing together Trade Unionists, NGOs and Women’s organisations from Asia, Africa and the Americas. This gathering focussed on the garment sector, sharing experiences and understanding of the key issues and developments in the sector.  Beyond that the workshop explored possible areas of cooperation, identifying main challenges but specifically those faced by women workers in the sector.

History of Women Working Worldwide in the Garment Sector

Women Working Worldwide’s initial work began in this sector, during the early stages where extreme super exploitative sweat shop conditions characterised the new developments in Asia.  Once exposed, the situation sent shock waves among the consumers in the buying countries when finding out - ‘how the beautiful clothes that they wear everyday are made’.

New Project in Garment Industry

As Women Working Worldwide had made a decision to move back to the work supporting women workers in the sector, the workshop provided a good opportunity to work together with other partners chartering the path for re-entry in a complementary way i.e. supporting work where there was greater need.  This process was to be utilised also for identifying possible partners as well as key priority areas.  The key area identified was organisational strengthening.

Engagement with LECAWU on the conceptual side and work towards a proposal began.  Their participation at the workshop meant that there were learnings that the union was happy to run with, particularly on work, which other participants had shared on supporting women workers. ITGLWF-Africa has continued to support this process.  The overarching area of support agreed on by the parties is on organisational strengthening with emphasis on women and empowerment – women leadership development, capacity building and supporting efforts which creates spaces and strengthen the voice of women workers.

Women Working Worldwide’s work is connecting with the ILO and is complementary to the Better Work Programme.  Women workers constitute 90% of workers in the sector.  This suggests the need to focus on women addressing their organisational need, in the process strengthening their union organisation.  This understanding has been affirmed briefly in the discussion shared.  Our partners are part of the Better work programme and are excited by the possibilities ahead.