An important step towards Fairtrade gold

CAFOD welcomes the launch by the Fairtrade Foundation and the Alliance for Responsible Mining of Fairtrade and Fairmined gold standards.

This is an important step towards improving the livelihoods of artisanal and small-scale miners, who are some of the world’s poorest and most marginalised communities.

Artisanal and small-scale mining is a global phenomenon, involving an estimated 13-20 million people worldwide with a further 100 million dependent on it as a source of income. Working conditions for artisanal miners are often dangerous with miners at constant risk of accident or injury, and handling harmful chemicals such as mercury. Artisanal miners rarely receive a fair price for the gold they produce as market access is controlled by intermediaries.

CAFOD policy analyst Sonya Maldar said, "We believe that the Fairtrade and Fairmined gold standard will help to drive up standards within the industry as a whole, improve the lives of miners and show that traceability of the supply chain is possible.

"For the initiative to meet its objectives and provide consumer confidence in the product, it must adhere to the highest environmental and social standards. These standards must be rigorously implemented and regularly reviewed."

"While Fairtrade gold is an important step, it is limited to the artisanal and small scale sector. It does not address the problems of the large-scale mining industry, which we have been working on extensively since 2006, through our Unearth Justice campaign. The large-scale industry accounts for the majority of global gold production (around 85 per cent) and much remains to be done to improve the policies and practices within this sector."

CAFOD will be following the progress of the Fairtrade and Fairmined gold standard and will continue to work with the Fairtrade Foundation as the initiative develops.

Find out more about CAFOD’s work on mining and the private sector.

Hear an interview with Sonya Maldar on 'You and Yours' on BBC Radio 4