ILO technical assistance and law-making with integrity: Lesotho’s Labour Act of 2024
Authors Debbie Collier & Shane Godfrey
ISSN: 1996-2088
Affiliations: BA LLB (Rhodes) LLM PhD (UCT); Professor of Law and Director of the Centre for Transformative Regulation of Work, University of the Western Cape; BA (Hons) MA PhD (UCT) BProc (UNISA); Honorary Research Associate at the University of Cape Town; Honorary Senior Research Fellow, Global Development Institute, University of Manchester; Associate, Centre for Transformative Regulation of Work, University of the Western Cape
Source: Acta Juridica, 2024, p. 149-182
https://doi.org/10.47348/ACTA/2024/a6
Abstract
This article examines the role of ILO technical assistance in lawmaking and labour law reform, focusing on assistance provided in Lesotho prior to enactment of the Labour Act of 2024. ILO technical assistance often involves the use of external experts with significant influence over the development of domestic labour laws, raising questions about integrity and inclusivity in the law-making process. Drawing on our involvement in Lesotho’s labour law reform efforts between 2014 and 2024, the article considers key aspects of ILO assistance in the country’s unique socio-economic context. It highlights the importance of ensuring that labour laws are not only technically compliant with ILO conventions, but are also shaped by the deliberations of domestic stakeholders and are socially relevant and responsive to local employment and economic realities.