Jobs boom in Maputsoe

In a rare boost for Lesotho’s struggling garment industry, Joans Enterprise (Pty) Ltd has doubled its workforce, growing from 350 to 700 employees this year.

The expansion has breathed new life into the country, which is facing economic and public health crises triggered by cuts in foreign aid and harsh US trade tariffs. It is also struggling with high unemployment and fresh job losses.

The textile industry has long depended on duty-free access to US markets, which make up 47 percent of its shipments, valued at over M3.4 billion annually, and account for nearly 13 percent of GDP.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) this week warned that the US tariffs could lead to a 20 to 30 percent decline in orders, a loss of over R1 billion in exports.

The Ha Nyenye Industrial Estate in Maputsoe has brought relief to hundreds of Basotho desperate for steady jobs.

The factory, which began with just 180 workers, now runs 21 assembly lines and 12 preparation lines.

Floor manager Selina Mpakathe credits the company’s 2022 move to a larger facility for the breakthrough.

“When we started with 180 workers, we were sewing only shirts. As we grew, we diversified. Now we do all kinds of clothing, including school shirts. Our management is determined to give Basotho work,” Mpakathe said.

For many, the jobs mean survival. ‘

Makatleho Mothae, one of the new recruits, lost her livelihood when Ace Apparel abruptly shut down in December 2023, leaving workers unpaid and without benefits.

She said after Ace Apparel collapsed, she had given up hope. But Joans Enterprise gave her a second chance and she just hopes more factories will open so others can get the same opportunity.

Joans Enterprise’s representative, Manoj Rooplall, hailed the Lesotho National Development Corporation (LNDC) for providing the building that made the expansion possible.

“We’re grateful to LNDC for enabling us to operate and expand. Demand drives growth, and we’re already exploring further expansion. The aim is to create even more jobs in the textile and manufacturing industries,” Rooplall noted.

The Minister of Trade, Industry and Business Development, Mokhethi Shelile, emphasised the strong demand in neighbouring South Africa, where most of Lesotho’s clothing exports go.

“There’s a guaranteed market in South Africa. Exports to the U.S. earn foreign exchange for critical services like electricity and infrastructure, but regional demand sustains local jobs. More factories with South African markets will open soon, and Lesotho remains a leader in this industry in the region,” he said during a visit to the factor last Friday.

Lesotho’s garment industry, once a powerhouse employing around 50,000 people, now supports about 36,000 jobs. The sector has been battered by factory closures, with 12,000 positions lost due to U.S. tariffs alone.

LNDC interim CEO Molise Ramaili said Joans Enterprise’s success was the result of months of work to restore confidence among investors and buyers.

“We have fought hard to bring this industry back on its feet after Ace Apparel and other factories closed. Basotho workers are highly committed; without that, buyers might have taken their business elsewhere,” Ramaili said.

The collapse of Ace Apparel left hundreds of workers destitute, a grim reminder of how fragile jobs in the sector can be.

For Mothae and others like her, Joans Enterprise’s expansion represents both economic recovery and personal redemption.

On the bustling factory floor, rows of workers cut, sew and press garments that will soon make their way across the region. Mpakathe watches over the 21 assembly lines with quiet pride.

“We’ve come a long way. Doubling our staff means doubling the number of families we support. That’s what matters most,” she pointed out.

With further expansion talks underway, Joans Enterprise stands as a symbol of resilience in a sector that has been written off more than once. For the workers who have found a lifeline here, it represents something even more valuable: hope.

Mothae said she was on the verge of giving up, but now believes in the future again.