Diamond Mining
Diamond mining is one of the most common mining activities in the 21st century. Labor in the diamond mines presents a cause for concern for most of the mining companies. Child labor is rampant among the mining companies, with children being forced to work under the harsh conditions in the mines. Although severe life conditions are associated with forcing children into engaging in mining activities, human trafficking has been used as a way of forcing children into working in the mines. Diamond mining in Africa involves the employment of underage people to work in the mines in exchange for cheap labor. Different countries and agencies have set specific benchmarks for the ages, below which children should not be allowed to be employed. Human trafficking comes in when individuals attempt to overcome the various legal barriers to have children working in the diamond mines. Diamond mining in Africa presents an avenue for human trafficking since miners seek cheap labor that is only available when minors are involved.
Diamond is one of the most precious metals, and its demand is always high. However, the conditions surrounding the mining of diamond are not a real reflection of the status in the market. Most people in Africa, and especially around the Sub-Saharan region, submit to harsh working conditions for low or no wages (Thompson, 124). One of the crucial factors behind the submission to poor working conditions in the diamond mines in the high poverty levels among most African societies. Also, the lack of reliable child protection laws has contributed immensely to the growing number of children working in the mines. The conditions in the mines are harsh and do not present a friendly environment that should be imposed on children. Moreover, the need for cheap labor has been behind the lack of consideration by most mining companies concerning the age limit for the employees recruited for the mining activities. Generally, the employment of children in the mines accounts for child labor due to the terms in the contracts under which the children operate.
Employment in the diamond mines accounts for child labor owing to the roles played by children. Generally, children may play significant roles in helping in family-related activities, such as helping their parents to carry out mining activities (Maconachie, Roy and Hilson, 134). However, the case of diamond mining differs in that children are forced either by circumstances or by their employees to carry out activities that should be carried out by older people or even machines. Children are seen as a source of cheap labor because they are not conversant with most of their rights and are most desperate to have the benefits associated with gold mining. Different countries have different specifications for ages that should be followed before employing an individual. Employees who follow below the set age-limit are said to be victims of child labor. Generally, children are not expected to engage in active delivery of labor before the age of fourteen years, while hazardous and lesser safe work activities are left for people above seventeen years old. Moreover, child labor in the diamond mines should be differentiated from the standard assistance offered by children whenever their parents call upon them.
Child labor is different from the attempts made by children to assist their families in carrying out mining activities. The definition of child labor takes into account the role of ethics in the impact of labor activities on the education and safety of the children (Andrews, 20). Generally, children are entitled to the rights of having accessible education as well as safety in carrying out their activities. Diamond mining activities are, however, unethical and end up harming the education and safety rights of the children. Therefore, diamond mining is coming up with several challenges that are associated with the increasing number of children working in the mines. Moreover, the increase in the rate of child labor is related to weak policies, although human trafficking has been on the frontline in contributing to the growing numbers.
Several countries that are involved in the diamond mining industry have set policies that are aimed at controlling the number of children employed in the diamond mines. The policies are developed to address issues such as the unclear specifications concerning the minimum age that should be considered before recruitment is done. However, rogue diamond miners and recruitment agencies have been finding loopholes in the various policies to recruit underage employees. The recruitment of underage employees has been conducted through human trafficking, where children are moved from poor backgrounds under the promise for better lives. High poverty levels among most families can be attributed to ease of convincing the children into accepting the employment promises. However, the miners and recruiters are interested in the cheap labor provided by the children, and sometimes the children are forced to work for low or no pay. Moreover, the diamond industry has been benefitting from the difficult circumstances that force children to work in the mines.
The employment of children into the mines is significantly different from the slavery era. Children are not forced directly into working for the miners, but circumstance places them in situations that force them to work in the mines. The International Labor Organizations reports a more than eleven percent composition of children in the world labor network. Generally, the labor market is expected to be comprised of adults, and children are expected to be in school. However, children have been reported to be forced by circumstances to lack options other than engaging in the various mining activities. The employment of children in the mining industry is viewed as one of the worst conditions in the labor market. Mining involves hazardous activities such as working around dangerous activities where children could easily drown or even get into accidents. Also, the mining industry involves harmful substances at the mining sites, hence the classification by most agencies of diamond mining as a dangerous venture for children. Besides, children do not have the necessary skills to deal with various challenges that come with employment at the mining sites. Generally, the employment of children in the diamond mines presents an avenue for infringing on the rights of children concerning labor. Moreover, diamond mining has been associated with the increase in child labor in recent years.
Diamond mining presents severe conditions that make mining companies to prefer children for most of the activities. Diamond deposits are found under narrow openings that adults cannot go through. Therefore, children are preferred as they can navigate easily through the narrow holes to access the diamond deposits (James et al. 250). Furthermore, children can easily and cheaply be convinced to work on dangerous diamond deposits, especially where the children are sourced from impoverished backgrounds. Also, the separation of diamonds from gravel adds to the challenges in the mining areas. Besides, a bank of fifty to sixty kilograms of gravel may contain few or no particles of diamonds. Children are forced to engage in the panning of the vast amounts of gravel to select the precious stones that are later tested for quality. Generally, the process of obtaining diamonds from the deposits is tiresome, and most adults do not seek employment leaving the companies with no options but look for less resistant children. Moreover, diamond deposits are associated with other hazards, such as diseases, accidents, and fights.
Children working for the mining industry are subjected to severe health hazards due to the risks associated with the activities. First, mining pits present home for malaria-causing mosquitoes that pose a threat to children who work in the mines. Malaria contributes to a higher percentage of deaths in the mining regions, with children being the most frequent victims (Cervellati, Matteo, Esposito and Sunde. 130). Also, accidents on the mining sites are several where children fall off cliffs or are hit by stones as they continue with the search for a diamond in the underground holes. Furthermore, fights are frequent in the mining areas, and children are involved in dangerous fights that may end up in deaths (Engwicht, 261). Where deaths do not occur, the mining industries incur significant losses where the conflicts lead to loss of crucial materials. Generally, diamond mining is responsible for most of the hazards that are faced by children in the mining sites. Therefore, diamond mining contributes to working hazards for children working in the sites, and the activities can be defined as child labor. Moreover, diamond mining involves activities that continue several stages after the initial mining at the sites.
The intensity of child labor is not only felt at the mining sites but also in the polishing stage of the mineral. Diamond involves several activities in the refinery process, and children are still seen as a source of cheap labor (Chen, n. p). Generally, diamond is obtained as gemstones that have to be polished for the final quality diamond. The polishing stage of diamond has, however, seemed to have a severe impact on the increasing rate of child labor. Mining companies have, in recent years, shown a higher preference of children to adults for the polishing of diamond. Generally, polishing is procedural, and children are seen as better learners than their adult counterparts. The mining companies believe that children have stronger eye strength and that their fingers are agile and can conduct the polishing effectively. However, polishing is associated with considerable hazards since it involves harming the health of the children when exposure takes a long time without the presence of sufficient fans. Besides, Chromium oxide is harmful, and so is diamond powder if the human body is exposed for a long time. Therefore, the children working in the diamond mining sites are exposed to considerable health hazards, and their lives are always in danger. Moreover, the employment of children in the diamond mines happens due to a set of reasons that range from family influence to poor backgrounds.
The employment of children in the diamond mines happens due to a set of reasons that vary from child to child. Families that own or work in the diamond mines tend to carry along their children to help with some of the activities (Charlotte et al. n. p). Generally, children who assist their families in the mining industry are not paid because they are viewed as assistants by their parents. However, the children gain experience that puts them in a position to accept job offers by mining companies. Generally, the use of children in the mining sites by families exposes the children to mining companies that are looking for experienced children to employ them. Eventually, the children end up becoming victims of child labor despite starting their involvement in the diamond mining business purely as assistants. Also, parents and relatives sell off their children to mining companies in exchange for money. The main reason for forcing families to sell their children is always poverty. Mining companies also take advantage of orphaned children who are desperate to have income even if little to cater to their financial requirements. Moreover, the development of the diamond mining industry is not healthy for the lives of children.
Diamond mining is growing significantly with the growth of technology. Generally, diamond mining companies have improved their activities to improve their productivity. However, the introduction of technology in the mining industry has not provided relief for children from hazardous activities in the industry (Zvarivadza and Nhleko, 79). For example, companies have instead continued to employ more children to work alongside technology in improving productivity. For example, the polishing stage has led to more opportunities for children where more children are required to polish the vast amounts of diamond obtained upon using technology in the mining stage. Also, children are still used in the mining process to operate some of the machines. Unfortunately, child labor opens doors for the infringement of children’s rights as well as endangering their lives.
Children in mining sites enjoy few or no rights since the mining companies control the activities. For example, children are denied the right to education since they get to employment at younger ages. Also, the health of the children is risked by the activities that are left in the hands of the children. Diseases such as malaria are allowed to put the lives of the children in danger, with the mining companies putting little or no efforts to address the challenges faced by the children. Besides, the rights of the children are not considered because the employment is illegal, and the companies are not tied by any law to protect the rights of the children.
In sum, Diamond mining in Africa presents an avenue for human trafficking since miners seek cheap labor that is only available when minors are involved. The employment of children in the mines accounts for child labor due to the terms in the contracts under which the children operate. Moreover, diamond deposits are associated with other hazards, such as diseases, accidents, and fights. Generally, the rights of the children are not considered because the employment is illegal, and the companies are not tied by any law to protect the rights of the children.
Works Cited
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Cervellati, Matteo, Elena Esposito, and Uwe Sunde. “Long-term exposure to malaria and development: Disaggregate evidence for contemporaneous Africa.” Journal of Demographic Economics 83.1 (2017): 129-148.
Chen, Hsin Chih. Diamond heists in Africa: Political economy of manipulationand violence. St. John’s University (New York), 2017.
Engwicht, Nina. ““It can lift someone from poverty”: Imagined futures in the Sierra Leonean diamond market.” The Extractive Industries and Society 5.2 (2018): 260-266.
Lively, Charlotte, et al. “Unethical Business and Fair Trade.” (2017).
Maconachie, Roy, and Gavin Hilson. “Re-thinking the child labor “problem” in rural sub- Saharan Africa: The case of Sierra Leone’s Half Shovels.” World Development 78 (2016): 136-147.
Shigley, James E., et al. “Mining diamonds in the Canadian Arctic: The Diavik Mine.” Gems and Gemology 52.2 (2016): 104-131.
Thompson, O. O., et al. “‘The World Against Us’: The Vulnerable Group, Marange Diamond Mines and the Corporate Social Responsibility Question.” Opportunities and Pitfalls of Corporate Social Responsibility. Springer, Cham, 2019. 123-138.
Zvarivadza, T., and A. S. Nhleko. “Resolving artisanal and small-scale mining challenges: Moving from conflict to cooperation for sustainability in mine planning.” Resources Policy 56 (2018): 78-86.