Workers March in Maseru Over AGOA Uncertainty
Hundreds of garment-factory workers marched through Maseru, demanding government action to save Lesotho's textile industry.
The march was originally banned but proceeded after the police minister gave it the go-ahead. Protesters held signs calling for the AGOA trade agreement with the United States to be saved.
- AGOA is a trade agreement allowing duty-free exports of Lesotho-made garments to the American market.
- Without AGOA, tens of thousands of jobs would disappear, leaving families and communities in hunger.
“Where is AGOA?” and “Renew AGOA and stop job losses,”
read banners waved through the capital as mostly women workers, joined by trade-union leaders, youth and consumer groups, marched from Sethaleng-sa-Mopapa to Sefikeng-sa-Moshoeshoe in Maseru.
Author's summary: Workers protest AGOA uncertainty in Lesotho.