Save the Children Switzerland, The Centre for Child Rights and Business and dormakaba are jointly tackling child labour in cobalt mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The project offers children involved in mining individual and long-term support.
Due to poverty and lack of quality education, also children work in cobalt mines in Kolwezi, DRC . © The Centre for Child Rights and Business
Child labour in cobalt mining
The world is sourcing around 70% of its cobalt from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The metal is used in many everyday objects such as smartphones, computers and electric cars. The ongoing green transition is increasing international demand for cobalt.
Home to more than half a million people, Kolwezi hosts many of the country’s formal large-scale mines, as well as a very active artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector that is a lifeline to approximately 200,000 people and accounts for up to 30% of the global cobalt supply. Due to the persistent poverty and a lack of alternatives as quality education and training as well as income-generating activities, it is estimated that one in six children in ASM communities in the DRC is engaged in dangerous mining work. Working conditions in the ASM sector are particularly hazardous and the risks of child rights violations are high.
Protect children's rights in supply chains
We are committed to upholding children’s rights in global supply chains so that children are protected, can go to school and simply be children. With the support of dormakaba, a global leader in the market for access solutions headquartered in Switzerland, we are protecting children from exploitative child labour in small-scale mining in the DRC. The company is committed to the project as part of its duty of care against child labour in its own supply chains. The ten-year programme is being implemented and coordinated by Save the Children’s subsidiary organisation The Centre for Child Rights and Business.
Child Labour Remediation
