Limpho Sello
MASERU — Newly-appointed Labour and Employment Minister, Keketso Rantšo, has implored ministry staff to work hard and not be distracted by cabinet reshuffles which she described as a common occurrence in politics.
Rantšo made these remarks at a function to introduce and familiarise herself with the Labour and Employment ministry staff this week.
The former Public Works and Transport Minister described her assuming the Labour and Employment portfolio as akin “to jumping from the frying pan into the fire”, since the ministry mostly deals with addressing the plight of private sector workers, whose conditions of service vastly differ from those of civil servants.
“These (private sector workers) are mostly hired by foreigners who at times skip the country without having paid them,” Rantšo said.
She said it was in such instances that they, as labour ministry officials, come in and fight for workers’ rights.
Rantšo said the ministry also faced the enormous challenge of improving the poor remuneration and working conditions for workers, adding that it will be a priority in her tenure at the ministry.
“We have, for instance, the challenge of security guards who work for low wages under hostile conditions such as not having access to heaters during cold winter nights,” she said.
Safety equipment should also be availed to workers to avoid workplace accidents, Rantšo said.
Rantšo was among the ministers that were moved by Prime Minister Thomas Thabane, swapping places with Lebesa Maloi who has since assumed the Public Works and Transport cabinet portfolio.