Sunday 19 May 2019

Freedomunited.org: Gemstone Company Warns of Mining Slavery in Mozambique

FREEDOM UNITED
Gemstone
Monday May 13, 2019
Gemstone Company Warns of Mining Slavery in Mozambique
0
Forced Labor

    0
    3
    0
    0

London-based gemstones company Gemfields is warning that illegal mining in Mozambique is tantamount to modern slavery.

The company owns 75% of of Montepuez Ruby Mining (MRM), which has launched investigations into child labor at mines and the increase in pit collapses that have killed miners.

Take Action: Help End Forced Labor

MRM says it has found many of the impoverished children working at mines are not from the local area, controlled by syndicates and agents.

Mining Weekly reports:

    The investigation found that the illegal miners are typically recruited by well-financed syndicate leaders or middlemen who entice their recruits with promises of ruby mining fortunes. The illegal miners or their families may be asked to make a payment to the syndicates to be granted the “opportunity” and be provided by the syndicates with transport to, and food and accommodation in, the Montepuez area.

    Gemfields explained that, when it is established that the illegal miners cannot pay these fees upfront, the syndicates offer to provide a loan which the illegal miner has to repay later from his ruby mining activities.

    “Indebted to the syndicates and with no spare cash, these illegal miners cannot freely return home and, as a result, the illegal miners are effectively bound in modern slavery.”

Recruited miners are then made to work in illegal mining pits, where they are exposed to highly unsafe conditions. Gemstones they find are then sold through the syndicate, leaving the miner only a fraction of the pay.

MRM says it is working with the the Mozambican government through the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy, the provincial government of Cabo Delgado, and the administration of Montepuez district to identify illegal mining and syndicates trapping children in modern slavery.

Chip in and help end modern slavery once and for all.
Leave a Reply
Please Login to comment
Connect with:
Facebook Google

    Learn
        Freedom University
        Global News
        Speak Free Blog
        United Nations
        Our Impact
        About Us
        Our Partners
        Help Center
        Contact Us

    Act
        Campaigns
        Modern Slavery Registry
        Fundraise
        Book a Speaker

    Give
        Donate
        Pledge Your Birthday

ONE VOICE AGAINST MODERN SLAVERY

Freedom United is a 501(c)(3)
    EIN: 47-1249214
All Rights Reserved.
Copyright, Trademark & Service Mark Notices.
Privacy Policy and Legal Terms
    Trademarks and Copyright

    Learn
    Act
    Give

    About us
    News
    Help Center
    Contact Us

Help Center
Contact Us
Powered by elev.io

No comments: