"Lesotho's Garment Industry on the Brink: Trump’s Tariffs Threaten Jobs and Futures!"
🇱🇸 A CRISIS UNFOLDS IN LESOTHO! 🇱🇸
A garment factory in Lesotho, known for producing Trump-branded golf shirts, faces imminent shutdown due to staggering import taxes imposed by the U.S. government. The small southern African kingdom was hit with a jaw-dropping 50% tariff—the highest rate for any country—announced by President Donald Trump in April.
💔 A BLEAK FUTURE:
Although the tariffs have been temporarily suspended, Trump has warned they will be reimposed on August 1 unless a separate deal is reached. “We don’t know how we survive this one. We are going to die,” laments Aletta Seleso, a factory worker and mother, standing outside Precious Garments. With a monthly salary of just $160 (£120), she supports her child and extended family, and the uncertainty is crushing.
👖 THE DENIM CAPITAL:
Lesotho has earned the title of the "denim capital of Africa," producing jeans for iconic brands like Levi's and Wrangler. However, the looming threat to the garment industry prompted the government to declare a national "state of disaster" earlier this month to expedite job creation.
🌧️ WORKERS IN DESPAIR:
During lunch breaks, workers huddle in the weak sun, clutching their home-cooked meals, wrapped in blankets against the winter chill. Seleso, who has worked as an embroiderer for eight years, reveals that the factory has reduced work to just two weeks a month, slashing her pay in half. “It’s so hard to support my family now,” she says, highlighting the dire situation many face.
🔍 UNION VOICES:
Sam Mokhele, secretary general of a union representing workers at Precious Garments, states that while the company hasn’t officially announced a shutdown, the threat looms large. “They may have to shut down if things do not change,” he warns, echoing the fears of many workers.
🚨 A CALL FOR ACTION:
Seleso is appealing to the government to engage with the U.S. to find a viable solution to the tariff crisis. Meanwhile, across town at the Thetsane industrial site, job seekers gather outside another factory, CGM, which has closed but may reopen soon. Among them is Puleng Selane, a mother of three who has been job-hunting since March. “Now life is so hard... we often eat once a day,” she shares, painting a grim picture of survival.
📉 A TRADE DISASTER:
Despite the temporary pause on the 50% tariff, Lesotho's exports to the U.S. are still subject to a 10% tax, a significant blow for a country that previously enjoyed duty-free access under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa). This law was designed to alleviate poverty and create jobs, but Trump's tariffs threaten to dismantle the very fabric of Lesotho's economy.
📊 JOBS AT RISK:
The textile and garment industry is Lesotho's largest private sector employer, providing around 50,000 jobs at its peak. However, that number has dwindled to approximately 36,000, with 12,000 jobs directly affected by the U.S. tariffs. Precious Garments once employed 4,000 workers, but uncertainty now hangs over the industry.
😞 A YOUTH IN CRISIS:
Unemployment in Lesotho stands at 30%, with youth unemployment nearing 50%. Activist Tšolo Thakeli describes the situation as "tragic," with graduates struggling to find work. He blames rampant nepotism and corruption for the lack of opportunities, criticizing the government for failing to deliver on promises of job creation.
🗣️ GOVERNMENT ASSURANCES:
Trade Minister Mokhethi Shelile insists the government is working to resolve the issue, claiming they are shifting production to South Africa. However, many remain skeptical, viewing the minister's reassurances as empty words in the face of a growing crisis.
🏭 A FACTORY IN LIMBO:
At TZICC, a factory producing sportswear for major retailers, operations have ground to a halt, with 1,000 employees laid off due to a lack of orders. Manager Rahila Omar explains that the pressure from tariffs has forced the company to finish orders quickly, leading to layoffs. Without a resolution to the tariff situation, the future remains uncertain.
💔 A DESPERATE SITUATION:
As the government promises solutions, for workers like Seleso and Thakeli, hope is dwindling. The looming threat of tariffs and the uncertainty surrounding the garment industry cast a long shadow over Lesotho's workforce, leaving many to wonder if their livelihoods will survive the storm.
