EMPLOYEES of the Nien Hsing International Lesotho (Pty) Ltd factory are expected to resume operations on Monday after the company was given the green light to open by the government.

The firm like many other local textile manufacturers was forced to shut down in light of the nationwide lockdown imposed by the prime minister in January, in a bid to curb the skyrocketing spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Minister of Employment and Labour, Keketso Rantšo said Nien Hsing International Lesotho (Pty) Ltd factory is one of a number of firms that applied for permission to work during the lockdown period because they have many orders that are expected to be delivered to their buyers.

The factory, she said had initially requested only two shifts, adding however, that this time around it applied for three shifts in order to meet its deadline.

“'After submitting their application to both the Ministry of Trade and Industry as well as my ministry, we scrutinised it and approved it after all their documents checked out,” Ms Rantšo said.

She appealed to the workers to maintain the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the National COVID-19 Secretariat (NACOSEC) safety protocols at work to ensure that they minimise chances of infections.