The mining industry is one of the most polluting, deadly, and destructive industries in the world. Yet to date, mining company responses to the COVID-19 pandemic have received little scrutiny compared to other industries seeking to profit from this crisis. We, the undersigned organizations, condemn and reject the ways that the mining industry and numerous governments are taking advantage of the pandemic to manufacture new mining opportunities and establish a positive public image, now and for the future. These actions pose an immediate threat to the health and safety of communities and organizations that have been struggling to defend public health and their environments against the destruction and devastation of mining extractivism for decades, as well as to the safety of workers in the mining sector. Based on a collective analysis emerging from conversations with affected communities, workers, and civil society organizations, we have identified the following trends that exemplify this threat. A review of over 500 media sources, press releases, and reports on mining in the context of COVID-19 further informs these findings.

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Uyghurs for sale: ‘Re-education’, forced labour and surveillance beyond Xinjiang
Publications

The Chinese government has facilitated the mass transfer of Uyghur and other ethnic minority citizens from the far west region of Xinjiang to factories across the country. Under conditions that strongly suggest forced labour, Uyghurs are working in ...Read More

TAGS: Asia
An Ethical Framework for Cross-Border Labor Recruitment: An Industry/Stakeholder Collaboration to Reduce the Risks of Forced Labor and Human Trafficking – Verite and Manpower Group, 2012
GuidanceStandards & Codes of ConductPublications

The Ethical Framework for Cross Border Labor Recruitment offers a set of specific operational practices (“Standards of Ethical Practice”) for recruitment firms that operate across borders. These practices are reinforced by a Verification and Cer...Read More

Using Blockchain To Combat Modern Slavery
Publications

Blockchain first entered public awareness as the technology underpinning the cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Whilst the longevity of Bitcoin remains uncertain, and governments and financial institutions alike are cautious in their acceptance of cryptocurrenc...Read More

Crisis in Human Trafficking During the Pandemic
COVID-19 resourcesGuidance

Over the last few months, Polaris has been carefully tracking the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on victims and survivors of sex and labor trafficking. As part of this effort, Polaris has undertaken a systematic examination of relevant da...Read More