Abstract

This study examines long-term trends in migrant labor and remittance flows in Lesotho from 2010 to 2024, focusing on migration to South Africa’s mining, agricultural, and domestic-service sectors. A mixed-methods research design was employed, drawing on labor migration datasets, central bank remittance records, and household surveys administered to 3,200 migrant and non-migrant households. Qualitative data were obtained from interviews with 40 returned migrants, recruitment agencies, and labor policymakers. Findings show a steady decline in traditional mine labor migration but a rise in informal-sector and domestic-service migration among women. Remittances remained a critical livelihood source, contributing over 18% of national GDP during the study period. Time-series analysis revealed that remittance inflows were sensitive to economic fluctuations in South Africa, with significant drops during the COVID-19 pandemic. Household-level analysis showed that remittances improved food security, education access, and small-business investment but also created dependency risks and exposure to labor exploitation abroad. Regression results indicated that migrant education level, migration sector, and documentation status significantly predicted remittance amounts (p < 0.05). Key challenges include increasing irregular migration, deportation risks, and high transaction fees for cross-border remittances. The study concludes that migrant labor remains a cornerstone of Lesotho’s socio-economic stability but requires diversification and stronger labor protections. Policy recommendations include bilateral labor agreements, financial-literacy programs for remittance use, and the expansion of low-cost digital remittance channels.