Lesotho Government is committed towards establishing a comprehensive social security scheme as soon as possible.

The Minister of Employment and Labour Mrs. Mpeo Mahase-Moiloa said this, when officially opening a one-day Lesotho Social Security workshop held at Maseru Sun Hotel on Thursday.

She pointed out that commitment and eagerness to establish a social security scheme is caused by the fact that Lesotho faces a lot of challenges which can be overcome by the establishment of this scheme.

"These challenges are poverty, unemployment, and HIV and AIDS pandemic, which continues to ravage the cream of the country. These are workers, who are the future of the nation, teenagers and middle aged people from whom more is still expected," she remarked.

Mrs. Mahase -Moiloa said it was not surprising therefore that establishment of this scheme was contained in the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP), as well as the vision 2020 document which reflects the Basotho's vision or dream of getting out of poverty by the year 2020.

The Minister acknowledged the presence of International Labour Organisations and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung whom she stated that are willing to assist the government in establishing the social security scheme.

Social security is an umbrella concept which includes social allowances, social assistance and social insurance. It encompasses both private and public measures which are aimed at providing income security to individuals and families who fall victim to particular contingencies, such as unemployment, old age, sickness and death.

SOURCE: LENA