Lesotho - Responsible Business ConductLesotho - Business Conduct

There is a general awareness of responsible business conduct and corporate social responsibility among both producers and consumers. The government maintains and enforces domestic laws with respect to labor and employment rights, consumer protections, and environmental protections. Labor laws and regulations are rarely waived in order to attract investment, and the government does not compromise on environmental laws. Since 2013, the Policy Analysis and Research Institute of Lesotho has monitored mining companies on corporate social responsibility. Additionally, Lesotho’s Consumer Protection Association and the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) have developed a comprehensive monitoring program that will assess corporate social responsibility in a variety of economic sectors. They plan to publish their inaugural joint report in 2016.

Foreign and local enterprises tend to follow generally accepted corporate social responsibility (CSR) principles such as those contained in OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and the United Nations’ Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, although the government does not actively promote adherence to these principles. Firms who pursue CSR are viewed favorably by society, but CSR does not necessarily provide any advantages in dealing with the government.