Abstract
The study aimed at investigating the gender differences in the labour market of the urban formal sector in Maseru. The research was undertaken to illustrate the existing gender gap between men and women both in occupation and remuneration thus exposing inequality manifestations particularly in an urbanizing city, Maseru. The assessment was carried out in Maseru urban formal sector in three government entities: the National Manpower Development Secretariat, Office of the Auditor General and Ministry of Labour. The three government entities were purposively selected because of easy access of documented data and availability of resource persons to assist during data collection exercise. While at the same time a few interviews were conducted with men working in the taxi industry and the informal sector. Observations as well formed part of approach to the study to ascertain the validity of information obtained from the documented data and interviews. The main finding of the paper is that women in Lesotho the paper concludes that the formal labour market in Maseru is characterized by gender gaps where women occupy well salaried positions as opposed to their male counterparts with these low income jobs thus making men live in vicious cycle of poverty.
Highlights
Gender dynamics in Maseru are better understood within the history and development of the country
The colonial epoch best illustrates how modern institutions played a role in widening the gap between a male and female child within Basotho society, which better explains the origins of the current disparities in the labour market of Lesotho Maseru, the capital city
Gender gap in Occupation: In Lesotho, cultural practices highly influence decisions to send children to school which in turn influence the labour market in that more of the educated group tend to get jobs in the formal sector. Those who have received less education mainly men are found in the lower echelons with low pay in public service as well as in other formal sectors of the economy like construction and taxi industry
Summary
Gender dynamics in Maseru are better understood within the history and development of the country. Statement of the Problem: The prevailing gender gap in Lesotho cannot be narrowed for the fact that the country still has male children who are not attending school because they tend herds. These boys spend time in the remote areas without any opportunity to learn through formal education system mechanisms created. Female children are given chance to go to school and are well supported by their families This situation has spillover effects to the labour market where there are marked gender differences between males and females both in terms of occupation and remuneration one gets. Research Objectives: The study aimed at fulfilling the following objectives: To establish the manifestations of these gender differences
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