Wednesday, 23rd August 2006 (1433 views)

The International Labour Organization (ILO) has published details of a worldwide program to get rid of child labour from small-scale mining within a decade.

Supported by the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM), the "Minors out of Mining" initiative will involve governments and the international trade union movement (ICEM).

The ILO publication notes that the problem of child mining is much less widespread than it was a hundred years ago, but also spells out the problems that still exist.

It asserts that children as young as four are involved in the mining of gems, gold, coal and other materials in small-scale operations across the world.

"They meet the same risks as adults – cave-ins, rockfalls, mercury poisoning, asphyxiation – but, because their bodies and judgment are still developing, injuries are more likely to happen," it says.

The ILO defines a two-pronged approach to tackling the problem, including both "upstream" and "downstream" action in each country.

"Upstream" action will include working for a better policy environment and pushing for more stringent laws. "Downstream" activities will include monitoring children to check they are not working in mines, and to withdraw them if they are.

Countries that will be targeted include Mali, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Ecuador, Pakistan and the Philippines.

The ILO publication gives details about what the mining industry and governments can do to help with this problem.

 

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