On 10 May 2021 tens of thousands of garment, textile, shoe and leather workers in Lesotho went on strike demanding a pay increase. Although pay increases were mandated by labour laws each year, the government had used the Covid-19 pandemic as an excuse not to raise salaries since 2019.
Over 40,000 workers took to the streets in protest, and police responded by attacking and injuring several workers. Mamakalo Mohapi, a garment worker at Precious Garments in Maseru said:
"Instead of resolving the dispute by announcing new wages, the government is resorting to the use of excessive force. Two workers have died: one was hit by a truck while the other was shot by the army. Several workers have also been injured and hospitalised."
Despite the violence, workers held out and eventually won a pay increase of 14%.
Garment workers in the country held a successful one-day national strike in 2020 demanding back wages which had not been paid during the pandemic.
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