An article published by Jarnnan alleges that the Jordan Phosphate Mines company has forced its workers to work extra hours without paying them overtime. The article further alleges that the company’s extensive reliance on subcontracting, even for workers who have been doing essential work for the company for nearly 8 years, leaving workers without any social protection and exposing them to further safety and health hazards.

Moreover, the article claims that the company singed training contracts with the subcontracted workers for a period of 3 years, which means that they will be entitled to less social and health protection than regular workers in the company. Finally, the same article alleges that workers have been allegedly exposed to harsh and unsafe working conditions even during the Covid-19 crisis.

The Business and Human Rights Resource Centre contacted the company for response; the company did not respond.

On 11 November, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre contacted Indian Potash Limited regarding the raised allegations as two of its directors, Dr. P. S. Gahlaut and Dr. U. S. Awasthi, are publicly listed as board members in Jordan Phosphate Mines. Under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, businesses must “seek to prevent or mitigate adverse human rights impacts that are directly linked to their operations, products or services by their business relationships, even if they have not contributed to those impacts“. Therefore, India Potash Limited has moral and legal responsibilities towards communities impacted by Jordan Phosphate Mines abuses. Indian Potash Limited did not respond.

[The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre tried to contact Kisan International Trading FZE regarding the raised allegations as one of its directors, Mr. Manish Gupta, is also publicly listed as a board member in Jordan Phosphate Mines. However, we were unable to find information about the company.]