From the devices that entertain us to the air conditioners that keep us cool to the smartphones that connect us, critical minerals fuel our daily lives, unseen but indispensable.

Tantalum Ore enhances our smartphone audio, cobalt makes our electric batteries last longer, and rare earth elements illuminate our vibrant screens.

Critical materials are also essential for the aerospace, defense, and telecommunications industries and vital in the production of green technologies. Lithium drives electric vehicles, silicon captures solar energy, and indium brightens up our LED lights.

Informal artisanal and small-scale mining supports tens of millions of families worldwide. However, these largely informal operations usually fly under the radar of government oversight, leaving workers vulnerable to exploitation. Without proper safeguards, issues like unfair pay, dangerous working conditions, abuse, and child labor can persist. While larger industrial mining operations typically face more scrutiny, weak labor laws or poor enforcement in some countries leave laborers vulnerable to abuse.

Addressing these pervasive labor violations becomes increasingly challenging as materials pass through complex global supply networks. From extraction to manufacturing, these supply chains extend across countries and continents and involve numerous entities—from individual miners to multinational corporations.

Our 2024 List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor includes 12 critical materials that are at risk of being produced by child labor or forced labor.

  • Indium
  • Lithium
  • Manganese
  • Tin
  • Tungsten
  • Zinc 

From Principle to Practice: Implementing Ethical Sourcing Measures


The complexity of critical material supply chains must not hinder decisive action. Stakeholders must take responsibility for addressing labor exploitation and enhancing transparency and traceability through concrete steps:

Governments:

  • Enhancing labor laws and regulations to safeguard workers' rights in critical material supply chains and allocating adequate resources for effective enforcement and implementation.
  • Formalizing the informal artisanal and small mining sector in compliance with international standards.
  • Incorporating robust due diligence requirements into public procurement policies.
  • Establishing solid social protection systems to ensure families facing poverty and vulnerability do not resort to child or forced labor.

Private Sector:

  • Conducting thorough risk assessments to identify instances of child and forced labor and pinpoint vulnerabilities within supply chains.
  • Developing and implementing comprehensive strategies to mitigate these risks, including substantial investments in traceability systems, grievance mechanisms, independent third-party audits, and accessible remedies for survivors of forced or child labor.
  • Instituting stringent codes of conduct and mandatory supplier requirements that unequivocally prohibit labor exploitation, ensure fair wages, maintain safe working conditions, and uphold human rights standards.

Consumers and Consumer Advocacy Groups:

  • Encouraging companies to exemplify a steadfast commitment to responsible sourcing and ethical business practices.
  • Staying informed about labor exploitation in supply chains and actively supporting companies that prioritize ethical sourcing practices whenever possible.