In 2023, Lesotho made minimal advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. The government drafted a National Action Plan on the Elimination of Child Labor. However, Lesotho's compulsory education age of 13 is below the minimum age for work, which is 15, leaving children between these ages vulnerable to child labor. The government also lacks effective coordination mechanisms to address child labor, and labor inspections are not conducted in high-risk sectors, including the informal sector, in which child labor is prevalent.
| Children | Age | Percent of Population |
|---|---|---|
| Working | 5 to 14 | 30.1% (Unavailable) |
| Hazardous Work by Children | 15 to 17 | Unavailable |
| Attending School | 5 to 14 | 93.8% |
| Combining Work and School | 7 to 14 | 32.1% |
| Sector/Industry | Activity |
|---|---|
| Agriculture | Herding animals, including cattle,† farming, including planting, applying pesticides, and harvesting. |
| Services | Domestic work, street work. |
| Categorical Worst Forms of Child Labor‡ | Commercial sexual exploitation and domestic work, each sometimes as a result of human trafficking. Use in illicit activities, including theft. |
† Determined by national law or regulation as hazardous and, as such, relevant to Article 3(d) of ILO C. 182.
‡ Child labor understood as the worst forms of child labor per se under Article 3(a)–(c) of ILO C. 182.
Children at Higher Risk
Due to the high rate of HIV among adults, many children in Lesotho become orphans and are vulnerable to human trafficking. Children, especially orphans, also sometimes voluntarily travel to other countries, including South Africa, for domestic work, and upon arrival they are subsequently detained in prison-like conditions and sexually exploited. In addition, boys involved in animal herding are exposed to harsh weather conditions, sometimes leading to death.
Barriers to Education Access
In Lesotho, primary education is free; however, there is a fee for secondary education that is cost prohibitive for many families. Many children also face limited access to education due to a shortage of teachers and schools, which causes them to travel long distances. In addition, the absence of sanitation facilities in schools remains a barrier for many children, especially menstruating girls. Children with disabilities also encounter difficulties with ill-equipped educational facilities. According to the Ministry of Social Development, children must produce copies of birth certificates to qualify for the Orphans and Vulnerable Children program, which provides school fees and uniforms for orphans and vulnerable children. The low number of birth registrations in Lesotho may prevent some children from accessing this program, increasing their vulnerability to child labor because they are unable to attend school. There are also reports that children from ethnic minorities such as Zulus, Xhosa, and Baphuthi are prevented from attending school because classes are not instructed in their native language.
| Standard | Age | Meets International Standards | Legislation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Age for Work | 15 | ✓ | Article 228(1) of the Children's Protection and Welfare Act; Article 124(1) of the Labor Code |
| Minimum Age for Hazardous Work | 18 | ✓ | Article 230(1) of the Children's Protection and Welfare Act; Article 125(1) of the Labor Code |
| Identification of Hazardous Occupations or Activities Prohibited for Children | ✓ | Articles 230(3) and 231 of the Children's Protection and Welfare Act | |
| Prohibition of Slavery, Debt Bondage, and Forced Labor | ✓ | Article 7(1) of the Labor Code; Article 9(2) of the Constitution; Article 5 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act | |
| Prohibition of Child Trafficking | ✓ | Article 5 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act; Anti-Trafficking in Persons (Amendment) Act (2021) | |
| Prohibition of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children | ✓ | Article 77 of the Children’s Protection and Welfare Act; Articles 10–14 of the Sexual Offenses Act | |
| Prohibition of Using Children in Illicit Activities | ✓ | Article 45(b) of the Children's Protection and Welfare Act | |
| Minimum Age for Voluntary State Military Recruitment | 18 | ✓ | Article 22(o) of the Children's Protection and Welfare Act |
| Prohibition of Compulsory Recruitment of Children by (State) Military | N/A* | Article 22(o) of the Children's Protection and Welfare Act | |
| Prohibition of Military Recruitment by Non-state Armed Groups | ✓ | Article 22(o) of the Children's Protection and Welfare Act | |
| Compulsory Education Age | 13‡ | ✗ | Part I Article 3(a), and Part II Articles 6 and 7(3)(c) of the Education Act |
| Free Public Education | ✓ | Part II Articles 4(1)(a) and 4(1)(b) of the Education Act; Article 22(k) of the Children's Protection and Welfare Act |
* Country has no conscription
‡ Age calculated based on available information
| Organization/Agency | Role & Activities |
|---|
| Ministry of Labor and Employment (MOLE): Enforces minimum-age requirements and hazardous work prohibitions while conducting general labor inspections. There is also a Child Labor Unit within the Ministry that conducts trainings on the worst forms of child labor for district child protection teams. Research indicates that MOLE has insufficient resources, including an inadequate budget, and did not conduct enough inspections in areas in which child labor is known to occur, including the informal sector. In 2023, MOLE drafted a National Action Plan on the Elimination of Child Labor, which would become the primary document covering child labor issues. |
| National Police: Investigate criminal violations related to the worst forms of child labor. Manage all trafficking in persons-related cases within the Lesotho Mounted Police Service and refer cases for prosecution to the Public Prosecutor's Office. Also accompany MOLE officials on inspections related to hazardous work and forced child labor. |
| Overview of Enforcement Efforts | 2023 |
|---|---|
| Has a Labor Inspectorate | Yes |
| Able to Assess Civil Penalties | No |
| Routinely Conducted Worksite Inspections | Yes |
| Unannounced Inspections Permitted | Yes |
| Has a Complaint Mechanism | Yes |
| Imposed Penalties for Child Labor Violations | Unknown |
| Conducted Criminal Investigations for Worst Forms of Child Labor Crimes | Yes |
| Imposed Penalties for Worst Forms of Child Labor Crimes | Unknown |
In 2023, 24 labor inspectors conducted 423 worksite inspections, finding 3 child labor violations. It is unknown whether investigations into suspected cases of the worst forms of child labor were conducted, prosecutions were initiated, or perpetrators were convicted.
| Coordinating Body | Role & Activities |
|---|
| Program Advisory Committee on Child Labor/National Task Team: Led by MOLE's Child Labor Unit and includes representatives from government ministries, trade unions, NGOs, and international organizations. In 2023, the government conducted trainings at schools and public gatherings on child labor issues, and also carried out house-to-house child labor sensitization visits. In addition, the task force held a workshop to discuss how to incorporate the National Action Plan on the Elimination of Child Labor into their overall strategy. |
| Policy | Description & Activities |
|---|
| National Anti-Trafficking in Persons Strategic Framework and Action Plan (2021–2026): Supports national and international obligations and commitments regarding human trafficking in line with the vision to eliminate all forms of trafficking in persons in Lesotho. Provides victim protection, guidance for the successful arrest and prosecution of offenders, and preventive measures. During the reporting period, the government organized three trafficking in persons awareness campaigns: in Ladybrand on August 28, in Ficksburg on August 29, and in Qwaqwa on August 31. The police, labor ministry, refugees’ unit, two NGOs, and representatives from the Office of the Prime Minister participated in the campaigns. |
| Kingdom of Lesotho: Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper—National Strategic Development Plan (2018–2023): Identified child protection services (from the Child and Gender Protection Unit, social welfare and health agencies, and the justice system) and their capacity to respond adequately to cases of violence, abuse, and exploitation of children, including child labor. Outlined prevention measures. The Government of Lesotho continued to implement this policy during the reporting period. |
‡ The government has other policies that may have addressed child labor issues or had an impact on child labor.
| Program | Description & Activities |
|---|
| Orphans and Vulnerable Children Scholarship Program:† Government program that pays for tuition, uniforms, supplies, and boarding fees for orphans and vulnerable children. Benefited over 17,368 orphans and vulnerable children during the reporting period. |
| World Food Program: Provides incentives for primary school children from impoverished backgrounds to attend school and improves retention. Provided meals to over 50,000 pupils in 2023. |
| Child Grant Program: Provides cash transfers to impoverished families and households with orphans and vulnerable children. Implemented by the Ministry of Social Development and funded by the EU with technical support from UNICEF. Benefited 51,177 households during the reporting period. |
For information about USDOL’s projects to address child labor around the world, visit https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/ilab-project-page-search
† Program is funded by the Government of Lesotho
| Area | Suggested Action |
|---|---|
| Legal Framework | Increase the compulsory education age from age 13 to age 15 to align with the minimum age for work. |
| Enforcement | Provide adequate funding, resources, and training to labor inspectors and criminal investigators to carry out mandated duties. |
| Ensure that labor inspections are conducted in all relevant sectors, including the informal sector. | |
| Establish a mechanism to assess civil penalties for child labor violations. | |
| Coordination | Improve coordination and communication among all coordinating bodies to clarify mandates to address all forms of child labor. |
| Government Policies | Adopt a policy that addresses all relevant worst forms of child labor, such as livestock herding and commercial sexual exploitation. |
| Social Programs | Institute programs that mitigate the impacts of HIV and support orphans and vulnerable children. |
| Ensure that children with disabilities have equal access to education, including by providing adequate facilities to meet their needs. | |
| Address educational and logistical gaps resulting in reduced opportunities for secondary education, including the shortage of teachers and schools, the lack of sanitation facilities, and secondary school fees. | |
| Increase efforts to provide birth registration documentation to children to reduce their vulnerability to the worst forms of child labor. | |
| Expand existing programs to address the full scope of the child labor problem, including child trafficking and the commercial sexual exploitation of children. |
