Canadian mining companies show reckless disregard for African mine workers during COVID-19 pandemic
Photo Credit: (Business and Human Rights/Google Images)
Written by: Ruhi Rizvi
The COVID-19 pandemic has unsettled many companies and industries during the last few months of 2020. While many industries have remained closed in line with health and safety precautionary measures, plans to continue working have been implemented by some mining companies across Africa.
Canada’s top mineral companies which include Barrick Gold Corporation, IAM Gold, Kirkland Lake Gold, Galane, Nersun resources and Semajo. They operate mines across North America, South America, the Middle East, Africa and Australia which has opted to resume work in Africa, following a short recess. A recess, which potentially puts hundreds of lives at risk, at the behest of a capitalist industry.
In Africa, approximately 110 mines operate across most countries. The majority of Canada’s assets in Africa derive from Burkina Faso, DR Congo, Ghana, Madagascar, Mali, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Canadian mining companies have racked up huge profits in this industry on a year to year basis. Canada has approximately three quarters of the world mining companies’ headquarters located in the country. Recent figures from November 2019, illustrate that the Toronto based Barrick Gold Corporation had a revenue at $9.3 billion Canadian dollars. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic affecting hundreds of industries across the globe, mining.com reports Newmont and Barrick Gold are holding steady on the back of a surging gold price.
The companies are reluctant to cease production even during this crucial time. Work ethics to protect mine workers from contracting and preventing Covid disease is mostly shunned, as described by South Africa’s Association of Mineworkers and construction Union (AMCU).
Some 100,000 of 450,000 South African mine workers are shielded under AMCU. Over a month ago, guidelines for a 21 day plan were put in place for safeguarding the workers by enforcing a strict lockdown – including in the mining industry, which was restricted to only essential operations. However, in some mines this was much delayed or the plan was not adhered to by the council.
The Minerals Council Health policy committee for mining workers were adamant that they had fully engaged with information from the National institute for communicable diseases (NICD). In addition, they claimed they were using resources from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and complying with the guidelines. Council stated that appropriate steps were taken in respect of contact tracing and quarantine.
On April 27, information provided by the council stated that only nine cases were reported, some of which have been through on-mine transmission. It also reported that there were no deaths in the industry due to COVID-19.
According to the Business and Human Rights Centre:
“[The] Minister of Mines issued new regulations which allowed some mining to resume, but civil society and community network groups argue that the regulations do not go far enough to ensure workers are protected and make no reference to, for example, the need for personal protective equipment and medical facilities”.
Unions have argued that while some companies are taking a pragmatic approach to resume partial economic activity and reassurances are being given to mine workers to also return; careful consideration towards health and safety must be prioritised.
Some miners approached the court for urgent relief prompting Minister of Mines to put together a 10-point plan. This was hailed as victory for mineworkers union (AMCU), who took to the courts on behalf of its workers, requesting tighter measures surrounding the health and safety of its members.
While one victory may be satisfactory for mine workers in South Africa, other African countries may not have similar support. Working conditions for many labourers albeit mining, factory and other tough, tiresome laborious work often sees negligence by various means. Health and safety regulation policy is undermined by many employers. Both child and adult workers are often impoverished, so much so, that they put their lives at risk to support the livelihood of their families.
Human Rights Watch revealed in a report that about 12,000 children, some as young as 8, are working in artisanal and small-scale gold mines in Tanzania, while in Ghana thousands of children between the ages of 12 and 17, and some as young as 9, continue to work in hazardous conditions in unlicensed gold mines. In Mali and Burkina Faso, children represent between 30 to 50 per cent of the small-scale mining workforce and work between 12 to 15 hours a day in the artisanal gold mining sector.
Back in February 2020, Reuters news reported, Nevsun Resources Ltd was informed by Canadian courts of lawsuit proceedings brought by three Eritrean workers. An appeal to the courts by the mineral company was rejected and the case of abuse and violation is set to go ahead. This is said to be first of many cases from mine workers abroad who may potentially seek justice from the mineral companies. The plaintiffs, who were employed by Nevsun at its Bisha gold mine in Eritrea, Africa, have accused the company of slavery, forced labour and crimes against humanity.
“It sends a clear message that you could be sued in Canada if you become entangled or engaged in human rights abuses abroad,” said plaintiff lawyer Joe Fiorante at Vancouver law firm Camp Fiorante Matthews Mogerman LLP.
Hundreds of mine workers will continue to work for these companies, as employment is often necessary for survival. The COVID-19 pandemic will also bring many victims of exploitation to the doorsteps of these profiteering industries, unless voices for justice are raised.
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