Scope of the Issue

Over one million children are engaged in mining and quarrying worldwide—a stark violation of children’s rights that endangers their health, safety, and future by depriving them of an education. The presence of child labour in mining impedes economic and social progress in affected countries, hampering workforce productivity across generations. This issue also poses a business challenge, as minerals extracted by children often find their way into global supply chains, affecting industries like automotive, finance, construction, cosmetics, electronics, and jewelry.

There is mounting pressure for action from governments, labour and employer organizations, industry leaders, consumer advocates, and mining communities. In certain regions, the prevalence of child labour in mining is especially severe. For instance, research by the International Labour Organization (ILO) reveals that in Burkina Faso and Niger, children make up 30-50% of the gold mining workforce, with many younger than 15 and some working under forced labour conditions. A 2015 study estimated that children account for 20% of artisanal gold miners in Mali, while thousands more are engaged in gold mining in Ghana’s Western, Central, and Ashanti regions.

Child labour is also widely found in cobalt and coltan mines, where these minerals—critical for portable electronics and rechargeable batteries, including those in electric vehicles—are extracted. Over half of the world’s cobalt supply originates in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where children as young as seven work under hazardous, exploitative conditions, often facing violence, extortion, and intimidation. This DRC-sourced cobalt has been traced to lithium batteries used by leading multinational companies. Coltan mining in the DRC has similarly documented instances of child and forced labour; a 2013 study of 931 workers at three mining sites revealed that 93% were victims of labour exploitation.

 

The Risks of Mining to Children’s Health and Welfare

Mining work exposes children to severe health and safety risks, jeopardizing both their current well-being and future prospects. Children often perform dangerous tasks, such as working in underground shafts or handling mercury with bare hands to amalgamate gold. Both boys and girls are involved in extraction, transportation, and processing stages, undertaking physically demanding tasks like carrying heavy loads, crushing and grinding ore, and washing or panning for gold. Mines frequently lack adequate ventilation, leading to suffocating conditions for both adults and children. The dust generated poses serious respiratory hazards, with lung diseases that may not manifest until later in life. In some cases, children in countries like Zambia, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and the DRC work in conditions of debt bondage or are victims of trafficking.

Mining often takes place in isolated areas with minimal law enforcement, limited access to education, and scarce social services. The absence of family and community support, coupled with the prevalence of issues like alcohol and drug abuse, can make mining particularly detrimental to children’s psychological and moral well-being. Girls frequently undertake mining-adjacent roles, such as selling food and supplies to miners or working as domestic helpers, and are at risk of commercial sexual exploitation.

Due to these inherent dangers, the International Labour Organization (ILO) classifies mining and quarrying as hazardous work and considers it one of the worst forms of child labour.

Selected common mining and quarrying tasks, hazards and potential consequence

TASKS CONSEQUENCES HAZARDS POTENTIAL HEALTH
Tunnelling, diving into muddy wells Drilling equipment; explosives; confined spaces; faulty supports; stagnant air; poisonous gases; dust; darkness; dampness; radiation Death or traumatic injury from tunnel collapse; suffocation from compressor mining; injury from explosions; silicosis and related respiratory diseases; nausea; exhaustion
Digging or
hand-picking ore,
slabs, rock or sand		 Heavy tools; heavy loads; repetitive movements; dangerous heights; open holes; falling objects; moving vehicles; noise; dust Joint and bone deformities; blistered hands and feet; lacerations; back injury; muscle injury; head trauma; noise-induced hearing loss; breathing difficulties; frostbite, sunstroke and other thermal stresses; dehydration; blunt force trauma, loss of digits, limbs; eye injuries and infections from shards; dust
Crushing and amalgamating; sieving, washing and sorting Lead, mercury and other heavy metals; dust;
repetitive movements; bending, squatting or kneeling		 Neurological damage; genito-urinary disorders; musculoskeletal disorders; fatigue; immune deficiency
Removing waste
or water from mines		 Heavy loads; repetitive movements; chemical and biological hazards; dust Musculoskeletal disorders; fatigue; infections; skin irritation and damage; respiratory issues from exposure to chemicals and dust
Transporting materials via carts or carrying Heavy loads; large and unwieldy vehicles   Musculoskeletal disorders; fatigue; crushed by vehicles
Cooking and cleaning for adults Physical and verbal abuse; unsafe stoves; explosive fuels Injury from beatings; sexual abuse; burns
Selling goods
and services to miners		 Physical and verbal abuse Injury from beatings; behavioural disorders, sexual abuse or harassment
Mining
and quarrying in general		 Column 1 Value 8Remote locations; lawless atmosphere; poor sanitation; lack of protective gear; contaminated drinking water; stagnant water and mosquitoes; inadequate nutrition; degraded environmental conditions in air, water, soil, food; recruitment into sex trade; human trafficking and forced labour; gambling, drugs and alcohol Death by lack of medical treatment; behavioural disorders; addiction; sexually transmitted diseases; pregnancy; stunted growth; diarrhea and digestive disorders; malaria and mosquito-borne diseases

Developing an Action Plan on Child Labour: Key Issues and Guidelines

For companies to effectively address child labour in mineral supply chains, collaborative action is essential. Qualified adults with expertise in child protection should be involved in engaging with affected children and their families, fostering trust and collaboratively planning next steps. For unaccompanied minors, appointing an independent guardian is crucial. Ideally, remediation efforts should be led by responsible government authorities and other capable agencies to ensure coordinated and sustainable solutions.

Guidelines for Collaborative Action on Child Labour in Mining

Child labor in mining is illegal in most countries, yet enforcing these laws through policing or punitive actions alone can have limited and even harmful effects. Detaining parents or forcibly removing families may worsen children’s situations, leaving them more vulnerable. If local communities do not understand the reasons behind the action, they may revert to the same practices once enforcement leaves the area and may resist future interventions. Effective action begins with meaningful discussions with both formal and informal community leaders.

Begin by clearly identifying the activities and tasks performed by children under 18, either directly in mining or in support roles. Categorize tasks by age and gender and observe work patterns at various times to gain a comprehensive understanding of children’s involvement.

Understand who the children are and their origins. Are they local or migrant children? Are they accompanied by family, guardians, or alone? If they are neither local nor with family, investigate how they arrived—some may be trafficking victims, fleeing conflict, or escaping forced military recruitment. This information is essential for determining the most appropriate and effective response.

Identify resource personnel and agencies equipped to offer immediate or long-term support, such as health care or educational services. Engage these resources early to ensure that needed assistance is available when action is taken. For example, determine where children can access immediate healthcare or if nearby schools can accommodate displaced children.

Guidelines for Safely Rescuing Children from Mining

If young children or adolescents are found working in a mine or quarry, first assess their immediate needs for essentials like drinking water, first aid, and counseling. Many may suffer from malnutrition, dehydration, or untreated injuries. Engage competent authorities and trained child welfare specialists who can establish trust with the children and create individualized care plans that prioritize their health and well-being.

When children are involved in hazardous activities—such as handling mercury, working in underground shafts, or diving with unsafe equipment—they should be quickly removed and placed in educational or training programs. Access to social services and counseling may be needed, and engaging parents or guardians is crucial to gain support for these measures. Companies can assist by offering employment to an adult family member or providing financial support to offset the loss of income.

For younger children, education should be provided as a safe alternative to labor. Support may be required to cover schooling costs, and non-formal educational programs may be necessary to help them reintegrate into formal schooling.

Guidelines for Transitioning Older Children from Hazardous Mining Work

For children of legal working age (typically 15–18 years old) who are found in mining areas, creating a safe rest area or drop-in center can offer an effective way to engage with them. It’s essential to understand the reasons they feel compelled to work in mining and, where necessary, refer them to counseling or services if they have experienced severe abuse, such as trafficking.

Older children who may legally work often feel obligated to support their families despite the risks. Once they have completed compulsory education, helping them secure alternative, safe employment is often the most effective solution. Simply providing protective gear, like respirators or gloves, is not sufficient to safeguard them in hazardous environments.

Offering vocational or skills training programs can help redirect older youth from dangerous mining work, equipping them with the skills needed for safer, sustainable employment in the future.

Creating Sustainable Change: Key Strategies

Sustainable change requires ongoing oversight to prevent children from returning to hazardous work. Collaborate with labor inspectors and mining authorities to enhance monitoring and ensure they are fully informed about child labor laws. If formal monitoring is limited, consider creating a “community watch” or local monitoring system linked to official agencies. Equip inspectors and monitors with a checklist addressing physical, psychosocial, and moral risks faced by children in mining.

While most countries prohibit hazardous work for children under 18, mining may not always be included. Engage national employers’ organizations to advocate for child protection in mining, and work toward establishing legal recognition and regulation for small-scale mining (ASM) operations. Licensing these operations allows for regular inspections and supports the move toward formalization. Companies can assist by providing technical support to help formalize ASM practices.

Poverty often drives child labor. Support mining families by linking them to microfinance, creating women’s credit circles, and offering training and job placement programs. Enhancing access to markets, promoting value-added mineral processing, and encouraging small business development in mining communities are effective strategies. Training ASM miners in quality management, environmental restoration, and financial literacy can increase productivity and income.

Building broad support for child protection in mining requires raising awareness among parents, private sector stakeholders, local authorities, and the public. Promote understanding of the dangers of mining for children, children’s rights, and the importance of education to build a foundation for sustained community action.

Increasing the viability and quality of life in mining areas is critical. Collaborate with companies and employers’ organizations to create rural development plans that enhance public infrastructure like schools and roads, and address the needs of mining communities. Success depends on coordinated efforts among relevant ministries, including those responsible for mining, agriculture, education, labor, social welfare, and health.

Empowering small-scale miners strengthens their negotiating power and ensures their voices are included in policy-making. Support the creation of trade unions, mining cooperatives, and community organizations. Involving ASM miners in the development of mining policies ensures their buy-in, enabling them to actively defend their rights and interests in policy forums.

satish.baitali@caparies.com

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