THE EFFECTS OF UNSKILLED LABOUR MIGRATION FROM LESOTHO TO SOUTH AFRICA ON THE SOCIO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF LESOTHO: THE CASE OF MINE WORKERS

Authors: Rethabile Anastacia Khabele & Dr Dickson Thomas Ndamsa

ABSTRACT

This paper is an effort to investigate the effects of unskilled labour migration (mine workers) from Lesotho to South Africa on the socio economic development of Lesotho. The study employed the ARDL model to estimate the coefficients and made use of the time series data for three decades, ranging from 1990 to 2022. The results indicate among others that remittances received in Lesotho as a result of unskilled labour migration to South Africa have not had a significant positive impact on socio-economic development in Lesotho. The above findings informed the following recommendations to policy makers: policy measures to reduce unemployment should be prioritized in Lesotho there by limiting migrant labour as productive human resources flee the country daily.

Keywords:  Labour Migration, Remittance, Economic Development.

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