3. Human Rights

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ICMM company members commit to respect human rights and the interests cultures, customs and values of employees and communities affected by our activities.

ICMM members undertake to uphold the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and to cooperate in processes that remedy adverse impacts on the rights of employees and local communities.

Performance Expectations

Developed with extensive input from non-governmental organisations (NGOs), international organisations and academics, our Mining Principles establish baseline performance expectations for a responsible mining and metals industry. ICMM's Mining Principles include eight Performance Expectations under Principle 3: Human Rights.

  • 3.1: Respect human rights

    Support the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights by developing a policy commitment to respect human rights, undertaking human rights due diligence and providing for, or cooperating in processes to enable the remediation of adverse human rights impacts that members have caused or contributed to.

  • 3.2: Avoid involuntary resettlement

    Avoid the involuntary physical or economic displacement of families and communities. Where this is not possible apply the mitigation hierarchy and implement actions or remedies that address residual adverse effects to restore or improve livelihoods and standards of living of displaced people.

  • 3.3: Manage security while protecting human rights

    Implement, based on risk, a human rights and security approach consistent with the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights.

  • 3.4: Respect the rights of workers

    Respect the rights of workers by: not employing child or forced labour; avoiding human trafficking; not assigning hazardous/dangerous work to those under 18; eliminating harassment and discrimination; respecting freedom of association and collective bargaining; and providing a mechanism to address workers grievances.

  • 3.5: Provide fair pay and working hours

    Remunerate employees with wages that equal or exceed legal requirements or represent a competitive wage within that job market (whichever is higher), and assign regular and overtime working hours within legally required limits.

  • 3.6: Respect Indigenous Peoples

    Respect the rights, interests, aspirations, culture and natural resource-based livelihoods of Indigenous Peoples in project design, development and operation; apply the mitigation hierarchy to address adverse impacts; and deliver sustainable benefits for Indigenous Peoples.

  • 3.7: Work to obtain free, prior and informed consent

    Work to obtain the free, prior and informed consent of Indigenous Peoples where significant adverse impacts are likely to occur, as a result of relocation, disturbance of lands and territories or of critical cultural heritage, and capture the outcomes of engagement and consent processes in agreements.

  • 3.8: Promote workplace diversity

    Implement policies and practices to respect the rights and interests of women and support diversity in the workplace.

About ICMM's Mining Principles

ICMM’s Mining Principles strengthen social and environmental requirements, on issues such as labour rights, resettlement, gender, access to grievance mechanisms, mine closure, pollution and waste.

Supporting global goals

As momentum behind the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) continues to grow, there is mounting pressure on the private sector to support the delivery of a wide variety of development objectives. ICMM’s Mining Principles can support the mining and metals industry in addressing climate change, ending poverty and tackling rising inequalities.

Each SDG connects with or can be directly influenced by ICMM’s Mining Principles. Unlike many other sectors, there is no primary point of connection between mining and a single SDG. Instead, operations have the extraordinary potential to contribute to several goals at once. The contribution mining products to almost every aspect of life is arguably becoming more important than ever – with metals and minerals enabling the innovations needed to deliver pathways to a greener, safer and more sustainable future.