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Periodical article | Leiden University catalogue | WorldCat |
Title: | Opportunities for the Employment of Women in Lesotho: An Analysis of the Labour Construction Unit |
Authors: | Marlowe, Julia Swagler, Roger M. Setsbi, Anthony M. |
Year: | 1996 |
Periodical: | Scandinavian Journal of Development Alternatives and Area Studies |
Volume: | 15 |
Issue: | 2 |
Period: | June |
Pages: | 90-102 |
Language: | English |
Geographic term: | Lesotho |
Subjects: | employment government departments women Labor and Employment Women's Issues |
Abstract: | This article reports on a study undertaken in 1991 with the intent of improving the employment situation for women within the Labour Construction Unit of the Ministry of Works in Lesotho. The study assessed the current employment situation and the attitudes and awareness of employees with respect to gender-related issues. Specific objectives were to quantify the number of male and female employees and the educational level of labourers and office workers, as well as to describe recruitment procedures and job training opportunities. The findings indicated that the Labour Construction Unit has fewer female employees than in the past. However, the opportunity to improve gender equity is there since a majority of employees have favourable attitudes towards female workers. There are two problem areas. One is the need to hire more females overall, in a context of rising unemployment as many males return home after losing their jobs in the South African mines. The other is the negative attitudes towards women's ability to carry out certain jobs, notably those involving physically demanding labour. At the same time, attitudes towards female supervisors and engineers are not negative, suggesting that women are in a position to be trained for supervisory roles. Moreover, in view of the fact that women in Lesotho have higher literacy rates than men, this would also be the most economical use of human capital. Bibliogr., sum. |