abusesaffiliationarrow-downarrow-leftarrow-rightarrow-upattack-typeburgerchevron-downchevron-leftchevron-rightchevron-upClock iconclosedeletedevelopment-povertydiscriminationdollardownloademailenvironmentexternal-linkfacebookfiltergenderglobegroupshealthC4067174-3DD9-4B9E-AD64-284FDAAE6338@1xinformation-outlineinformationinstagraminvestment-trade-globalisationissueslabourlanguagesShapeCombined Shapeline, chart, up, arrow, graphLinkedInlocationmap-pinminusnewsorganisationotheroverviewpluspreviewArtboard 185profilerefreshIconnewssearchsecurityPathStock downStock steadyStock uptagticktooltiptwitteruniversalityweb

This page is not available in Burmese and is being displayed in English

Story

16 Jan 2025

A report highlights forced labor in cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; with co. responses

The mining of cobalt in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is linked to major human rights risks, including forced labor and child labor. Although the working conditions of those in the cobalt sector are widely acknowledged to be problematic, little was previously known about the scale or specifics of these issues.

This study helps fill this gap. The objective of this study was to gather quantitative data on the prevalence and nature of forced labor in the mining of cobalt in the DRC. The study aims to estimate the prevalence of forced labor in cobalt mining in the DRC; understand the demographic characteristics of workers experiencing forced labor; explore the various roles within the context of the cobalt supply chain, particularly at the mining level, and which roles maybe involve increased vulnerability to forced labor; and understand the working conditions in the cobalt mining industry, particularly the hazards involved in the work.

The Resource Centre invited the parent company of the companies cited in the report to respond to the allegations. The following companies responded: Tenke Fungurume Mining/CMOC Group; and Metalkol Roan Tailings Reclamation/Eurasian Resources Group. Their responses are linked below.

The following companies did not respond: Kamoto Copper Company/Glencore, La Sino-Congolaise des Mines (Sicomines)/China Railway Group Limited (CREC), Deziwa Mining Company (Somidez)/China Nonferrous Metal Compagny (CNMC); and Gécamines.

Company Responses

China Railway Group (CREC) (part of China Railway Engineering)

No Response

Gécamines

No Response

Tenke Fungurume Mining (TFM) (Joint venture between CMOC (80%) and Gecamines (20%)) View Response
Eurasian Resources Group (ERG) View Response
Kamoto Copper Company (JV between Glencore (75%) and Gecamines (25%))

No Response

China Nonferrous Metal Mining (CNMC)

No Response

Timeline

Privacy information

This site uses cookies and other web storage technologies. You can set your privacy choices below. Changes will take effect immediately.

For more information on our use of web storage, please refer to our Data Usage and Cookies Policy

Strictly necessary storage

ON
OFF

Necessary storage enables core site functionality. This site cannot function without it, so it can only be disabled by changing settings in your browser.

Analytics cookie

ON
OFF

When you access our website we use Google Analytics to collect information on your visit. Accepting this cookie will allow us to understand more details about your journey, and improve how we surface information. All analytics information is anonymous and we do not use it to identify you. Google provides a Google Analytics opt-out add on for all popular browsers.

Promotional cookies

ON
OFF

We share news and updates on business and human rights through third party platforms, including social media and search engines. These cookies help us to understand the performance of these promotions.

Your privacy choices for this site

This site uses cookies and other web storage technologies to enhance your experience beyond necessary core functionality.