WELCOME RECEPTION
Date: Wednesday, July 26, 2023
Time: 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., South African Standard Time
Place: Avani Maseru Hotel, Maseru
SUMMIT
Date: Thursday, July 27, 2023
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., South African Standard Time / 2:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Eastern Daylight Time
Place: Avani Maseru Hotel, Maseru, Lesotho, in person.
Millions of workers—most of them women—face intimidation, humiliation, physical and verbal assault, and worse on the job.
The Multilateral Partnership for Organizing, Worker Empowerment and Rights (M-POWER)* is working to eradicate gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH) in the world of work as part of its efforts to ensure worker rights and civil-society participation around the globe. This high-level summit, convened by M-POWER, is bringing together government, labor and business leaders to highlight advances toward that goal—including the Lesotho government’s ratification of ILO Convention 190 and the groundbreaking anti-GVBH agreements negotiated collaboratively by local unions, multinational brands sourcing from Lesotho and a local factory producing clothing for Western markets.
IN-PERSON ATTENDEES: Please find information about Maseru accommodations and transportation here.
SPEAKERS
FEATURED SPEAKERS: The Right Honorable Samuel Ntsokoane Matekane, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Lesotho, and representatives from M-POWER government partners Argentina, Germany, Spain and the United States.
- Honorable Richard Ramoeletsi, Minister of Public Service, Labor and Employment, Kingdom of Lesotho
- Shawna Bader-Blau, Executive Director, Solidarity Center*
- Chris Cooter, High Commissioner for Canada in South Africa* (by video)
- Cecilia Cross, Undersecretary for Inclusion Policies in the World of Work, Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security, Argentina*
- Laura Gutierrez, Global Worker Rights Coordinator, American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO*)
- Jeffrey Hogue, Chief Sustainability Officer, Levi Strauss & Co. (by video)
- Nellie Kahua, General Secretary, Namibian Domestic and Allied Workers Union (NDAWU), an International Domestic Workers Federation (IDWF*) affiliate
- Gloria Kente, Organizer, South African Domestic Services and Allied Workers Union (SADSAWU)
- Marieke Koning, Policy Adviser, International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC*)
- Mamolise Lawrance, Programs Coordinator, Informal Traders Association
- Zingiswa Losi, President, Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU*)
- Nhlanhla Mabizela, Field Program Specialist, Lesotho, Solidarity Center*
- Leeto Makoro, Shop Steward, Independent Democratic Union of Lesotho (IDUL)
- Matsie Moalosi, Education and Awareness Raising Facilitator, National Clothing Textile and Allied Workers Union (NACTWU)
- Mamohale Matsoso, Labor Commissioner, Ministry of Public Service, Labor and Employment, Kingdom of Lesotho
- Itumeleng Moerane, Information Line Manager, Federation of Women Lawyers Lesotho (FIDA)
- Samuel Mokhele, Secretary General, NACTWU
- Dr. Anna Montén-Küchel, First Secretary, Labor and Social Affairs, German Missions in South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini*
- Leboeala Motebang, Gender Focal Person, Lesotho Federation of Trade Unions (LFTU)
- Nyasha Muchichwa, Representative, Southern Africa Trade Union Coordinating Council (SATUCC)
- Harry Nkhetse, Senior Facilitator and Leadership Coach, Tobaka Consultants, Mountain Peak Business Solutions
- Popoti Ntebe, Trade Union Member, United Textile Employees (UNITE)
- Thusoana Ntlama, Programs Coordinator, FIDA Lesotho
- Sethelile Ntlhakana, Lesotho Country Representative, Worker Rights Consortium*
- Joaquín Perez Rey, Secretary of State for Employment and Social Economy, Ministry of Labor and Social Economy, Spain* (by video)
- Elliot Ramochela, Secretary General, LFTU
- Kelly M. Fay Rodríguez, Special Representative for International Labor Affairs, U.S. Department of State*
- Thato Sebeko, Member, Lesotho Labor Council (LLC)
- Puleng Selebeli, Trade Union Member, UNITE
- Paul Sematlane, General Secretary, Lesotho Labor Council (LLC)
- Motseoa Senyane, Lead Assessor, Workers’ Rights Watch
- Teboho Tolo, President, LFTU
- Keisha Toms, Deputy Chief of Mission, United States Embassy, Lesotho*
- Luc Triangle, Acting General Secretary, ITUC* (by video)
- Mathekiso Tseote, Shop Steward, NACTWU
* M-POWER Steering Committee Member or proxy, or M-POWER affiliated.
AGENDA
Wednesday, July 26
5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Welcome Reception honoring Lesotho government, labor, nonprofit and business leaders behind the historic Lesotho Agreements
Thursday, July 27
8:00 a.m. Registration
8:30 a.m. Opening Session
9:30 a.m. Group Photo and Break
10:00 a.m. Panel 1: The Role of Governments in Eliminating Gender-Based Violence and Harassment at Work: C190
11:15 a.m. U.S. Global Labor Priorities: Kelly M. Fay Rodríguez, Special Representative for International Labor Affairs, U.S. Department of State
11:45 a.m. Break
12:15 a.m. Panel 2: Spotlight – How Workers and Companies are Addressing Gender-Based Violence and Harassment in a Global Supply Chain: Focus on the Lesotho Agreement
1:30 p.m. Lunch
2:30 p.m. Panel 3: The Role of Trade Unions in Creating Safer, Fair and Healthy Workplaces Free from Harassment and Violence
3:30 p.m. Panel 4: Women Workers’ Participation in Democratic Governance
4:30 p.m. Closing Statements and Commitments
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE LANDMARK LESOTHO AGREEMENTS
This event is co-hosted by: The Multilateral Partnership for Organizing, Worker Empowerment, and Rights (M-POWER), the Lesotho Federation of Trade Unions and Lesotho Labor Council, and supported by the Solidarity Center.
Event Partners: the Congress of South African Trade Unions; Federation of Women Lawyers Lesotho; Independent Democratic Union of Lesotho; International Domestic Workers Federation; International Trade Union Confederation-Africa; International Trade Union Confederation; National Clothing, Textile and Allied Workers Union; Southern Africa Trade Union Coordination Council; United Textile Employees, Lesotho; Women and Law in Southern Africa Research and Education Trust; Worker Rights Consortium and Workers’ Rights Watch.
* M-POWER is a historic global initiative focused on ensuring working families thrive in the global economy and elevating the role of trade unions and organized workers as essential to advancing democracy. The government of the United States and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) co-chair M-POWER, joined by steering committee members: the governments of Argentina, Canada and Spain; the International Domestic Worker Federation; the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU); the AFL-CIO; and Funders Organized for Rights in the Global Economy (FORGE). Additional partners include the governments of Germany and South Africa, Business and Human Rights Resource Centre, Global Labor Justice-International Labor Rights Forum, ProDESC, Solidarity Center and Worker Rights Consortium.