By ‘Majirata Latela
Lesotho’s textile factories are reported to be making concerted efforts to put in place World Health Organisation-sanctioned measures to prevent the spread of the deadly corona virus which has so far claimed 365, 391 lives worldwide.
Lesotho has so far recorded two confirmed Convid-19 cases including one recovery, leaving the country with one active case. Both patients have travel history.
However, according to the minister of health Motlatsi Maqelepo this has shown that Lesotho is not immune to the virus, thus making it necessary to make sure that everyone respects the rules associated with Covid-19.
Washing hands with soap and running water, sanitising regularly, covering both nose and mouth with a mask while in public places, are some of the measures recommended for the prevention of the spread of the virus.
After the country lifted its nationwide lockdown last month, factories that had closed down started operating. In the light of the fact that these are places where many people congregate to work under one roof, there have been justifiable concerns over the adherence to safety measures.
theReporter on Friday visited two of the country’s main industrial hubs at Ha Thetsane in Maseru and Ha Maqele in Leribe. The two centres were a hive of activity as the movement of workers caught the eye.
About 90 percent of the workers had their masks on while at least 10 percent were putting them below their chins, perhaps to enable them to inhale enough oxygen after covering themselves for from the morning hours of 800hours till midday while some knocked off and others went just for lunch.
Social distancing, which means leaving a space of at least one to two metres between oneself and the next person, was however not practised. They walked side by side, in groups and while queuing at one auto-teller machine.
During a visit to one textile factory, the newspaper heard workers reminding colleagues to wear their masks before entering the gate, after their one-hour lunch break. “Hey remember your mask, or else the security guard will not allow you to enter,” the lady said as he pulled hers and put it on.
At the gate, there was a security guard, holding a yellowish bottle, wearing a mask and checking what they call clock cards as they enter the building. He reminded them to wash their hands before entering the building.
It was more like a norm as almost all the workers went without being told to wash their hands. Just by the gate was a washing area, several taps and hanging liquid hand soaps. It was warm water; thereporter learned after being allowed to enter the gate and then the building.
The human resource manager at Eclat Evergood Textile Pty Ltd, Senate Tsolo who directed the tour indicated that the ministry of labour and employment together with Lesotho National Development Cooperation had visited the place to make sure they adhere to the rules and regulations of engagement.
“Every morning and evening the building interior and equipment are sanitized. When the workers flock in the morning we use all the five entrances to the building and make sure that each one of them has a mask on, wash their hands and also gets sanitized. To make sure of social distancing, thereporter learned that some rows were left idling. Tsolo explained that the people working on the machines were left on short time so as to allow social distancing.
“We try as much as possible to keep people safe even though it’s difficult, time consuming and more costly to purchase sanitisers and the likes,” she said.
She added; “the firm usually takes a maximum of 1300 workers but currently we only have 900 workers in the building’ We did not call them all at the same time; we bring in a certain line of workers when there is a need for them to come and work.
“We still have material to use until August, and that means if there will not be a lockdown we will continue working till then. However, the challenge we are facing now is that our markets which are mostly in America, are gone due to Covid-19.
“The financial challenge is one of them; being under lockdown means no production and no markets. That has resulted into slow cash flow; however, we are determined to see people paid until then and to also make sure that no one loses their jobs,” Tsolo said.
Meanwhile, a worker at TZICC factory Pontšo Leche commended her bosses for making sure that they are safe from Covid-19.
“I won’t lie; these people are really working hard to make sure that we prevent the spread of the virus, we sanitize every now and then, they make sure that we are covered in masks at all times.
She joked about one boss lady from China always shouting at them when they meet in groups, reminding them that Lesotho has a second case while they are busy not adhering to the rules and regulations.
“I think they have seen, that what happened in other countries, especially their countries; they have lost friends and relatives back home to Covid-19 and they do not want to risk their lives while they can still make sure that they are protected,” Leche said.
Another textile worker, Mohau Futho, also said they are happy to be back at work because they will be able to work for their families. He said staying at home was even more stressful because they work on the ‘No work, No pay’ principle, and they were afraid that if they took too long before getting back to work they would lose their jobs forever.
“We only plead with our government to make sure that the money they promised us, we receive it on time because we have rent, transport and food to cater for with that little money since we are only getting back to work.
“We would also like the government to look into the problem of continually increasing food prices; these shops are making it difficult for us who earn very little to continue surviving with such ridiculous prices,” she added.
