Executive summary as the nongovernmental organisation (NGO), Dutch Clean Clothes Campaign. Although the labour law regime in Lesotho is very robust, there is a need to step up enforcement. Stakeholders singled out textile and garment factories where safe working conditions are not always maintained. Additionally, an extremely high HIV and AIDS infection rate among garment workers has led to conflicts over benefits such as sick and funeral leave. 10 4.36 Corporations such as the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) have in place social responsibility programmes such as environmental impact assessments (EIAs) to mitigate the effect of projects on people and the environment, as well as development programmes to assist communities with income-generating projects. The textile and business chambers, through HIV and AIDS initiatives, address prevention and the care and treatment of workers and their families. Nonetheless, CSR is still widely viewed as philanthropic and not structured enough to confront the social challenges facing the country. 4.37 In terms of public-private partnerships (PPPs), this is still a nascent terrain. Nonetheless, the minister of finance, in his budget speech of 2009/2010, articulated the intention of the government of Lesotho to lay out a clear framework for the use of PPPs to finance and operate public infrastructure projects for the purpose of delivering public services. Although relations between the private sector and the government have improved over the years, according to the Lesotho Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and the Mohloli Chamber of Business (MCB), the private sector is of the view that it does not have the requisite consultative forums to influence government decisions. 4.38 The celebrated LHWP that involved both local and international actors focused global attention on the country’s efforts in tackling corruption. Lesotho enacted the Prevention of Corruption and Economic Offences (PCEO) Act (1999), administered by the DCEO. Legislation relating to money laundering is in place. An Office of the Ombudsman was established in 1996. Despite the existence of these measures and institutions, perceptions are that corruption is still a problem in Lesotho and is on the increase. 4.39 In relation to the treatment by corporations of stakeholders, the report highlights the inadequacies of the antiquated Companies Act, as a result of which the Act is unable to provide up-to-date and wide-ranging protection of shareholder rights. Competition rights, consumer protection rights, and intellectual property and creditor rights either have weak and antiquated legal frameworks or are not provided for by any statute. 4.40 Accountability of corporations, directors and officers is weak owing to inadequate legal and regulatory frameworks and enforcement agencies. According to the auditor general’s report, many government ministries were not up to date with their accounts and some, including state-owned enterprises (SOEs), maintained incomplete accounting records; hence the issuing of qualified audit reports. Although there are marked improvements in the appointment of board directors, stakeholders reported that more still needs to be done to ensure that directors are appointed timeously and on merit. 4.41 Findings by the CRM revealed institutional inertia across all five of the objectives, including standards and codes. A trend identified by the CRM was that of many initiatives being launched,