All that glitters is not gold

When I think of gold, my mind immediately imagines jewellery. We use gold to make necklaces, bracelets, earrings and even my wedding ring. That has been the case for thousands of years, but now we use gold to fuel the booming technology industry. Almost every new, sophisticated piece of technology relies on gold to function. Each year the technology industries use over $20 billion to create our smartphones, home computers, and everything else with a circuit board.

?Unfortunately, where ever there is a demand for raw materials, there is the potential for modern slavery. Around a quarter of the gold mined worldwide is mined by small scale enterprises, sometimes called 'artisanal mines'. When I hear the word 'artisanal', I think of San Francisco sourdough or an old cheesemaker, creating small-batch, ultra mature cheddar. The reality of artisanal mines could not be further from that idea. These mines are bereft of modern technology, oversight and safety procedures. They operate in remote regions across South America and Africa.

?The mines remote location and small scale nature make them perfect for modern slavery to flourish. Recent estimates put the numbers of people forced in slavery or debt bondage in these mines in the hundreds of thousands. They exist in Venezuela, Peru, Brazil, Ghana and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The locations may be different, but the horrific reality is the same. They have shockingly unsafe working conditions, little, if any, pay and gruelling working hours. Children as young as five have been found working the mines, forced there by their parents' poverty.

?In July 2020, OHCHR (the U.N. Human Rights Office) highlighted the exploitation and abuse of children and indigenous communities and said,

?"A large portion of mining activities remain under the control of organized crime or armed elements that impose their own rules through violence and extortion. The report highlights a pattern of labour exploitation, including child labour. It refers to accounts of human trafficking and sexual exploitation. It also found that miners are required to give a large portion of the gold they extract to criminal and armed groups, are subjected to long workdays in hazardous conditions, and are exposed to diseases and mercury contamination."

?U.K. companies have a moral and legal obligation to root out modern slavery in their supply chain. The Modern Slavery Act requires all organizations in the U.K. with over ￡36 million turnover to provide an annual statement of the steps they are taking to protect their supply chain against modern slavery. Yes, it's complicated, and companies could fall into the trap of paying lip service to the legislation without making any meaningful change.

?Here at Hope for Justice and Slave-Free Alliance, we work with over 100 multinational companies, including eight constituent companies of the FTSE 100, to ensure that their supply chains are slave-free. It is possible to do it, and people are watching. There is now a searchable public register of modern slavery statements. So, as a consumer, before buying from a big company, check if they are on the register and what they are doing about modern slavery. For example, have they sought help from Slave-Free Alliance? If they are not on the register, reach out to them and ask why not! You can access the register here: https://modern-slavery-statement-registry.service.gov.uk/search

?For organizations, none of this needs to be an administrative nightmare. If you would like information on how your own company can effectively monitor your supply chain and how to share the steps you take using the public register to inspire confidence among your customers and partners, please get in touch. You can contact me directly [email protected]