The Shifting Nature of the Living Conditions of the Peri-urban Women: The Case of Ex-employees of Textile Industries in Maseru, Lesotho.

Abstract

In recent years Lesotho has been confronted with debilitating socio-economic challenges including the problems of general poverty, adverse climatic conditions, retrenchments from the mines and HIV/ AIDS. Notably, the responses to these epidemics have not been efficient. The most viable investment opportunities for a majority of Basotho have been in the agricultural sector as well as the mining and textile industries. The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) that Lesotho enjoyed from 2001-2004 gave rise to high productivity and boosted the exports of textile industries. This was short-lived as the low exports triggered by the non-enjoyment of the rights to exports of these products gave rise to retrenchment and a system of casual or temporary jobs. Majority of the women were left unemployed and without adequate compensation. This study therefore explores the living conditions of these women who were once employed and are currently unemployed and their coping strategies. The study adopts a quantitative design, using a structured questionnaire in data collection and analysis. The main findings include the fact that most women rely on textile industry employment for an income. The living conditions of these women during employment are comparatively satisfactory as opposed to the periods before and after employment. The paper concludes that there is general deterioration of the living conditions of most women principally resulting from a fall in remittances, the dramatic fall in employment in the textile industries and the HIV/AIDS pandemic ravaging the youths.

International Journal of emotiaonl psychology and sport ethics Vol. 9 2007: pp. 28-43