Since then, the workers' organizations, trade unions, local communities, and civil society in Pakistan have fought for the government to ratify and implement the Convention. Sadly, the government has long been unsympathetic to the deplorable working conditions in the mines. However, the government was occasionally persuaded by the mine owners to delay the action out of reluctance, depriving about 300,000 workers and miners of their fundamental rights to safety and health and disobeying Article 37(e) of the Pakistani Constitution, which commands the State to ensure just and humane working conditions.
Mining is one of the most hazardous and harmful occupations for workers in the world. With large quantities of coal, copper, iron ore, gold, zinc, lead, rock salt, and building materials like limestone and gypsum, Pakistan has a diverse mining industry. Over 50 minerals and elements, which are mined at surface or subsurface locations, are now being exploited throughout the nation. Along with several valuable and semi-precious stones, the lengthy list of minerals also includes rock phosphate, marble, granite, bauxite, bentonite, dolomite, calcite, and others.
In the country's mines, accidents happen often. It is estimated that every year, mostly in coal mines, 300 miners lose their lives and many more sustain significant injuries in work-related incidents. Ironically, neither the total number of people employed in the mining industry nor the number of deaths resulting from sporadic workplace accidents are subject to accurate data. There are several causes for this. Teenagers are employed as forced or bonded labor, which is against the law. Even though they frequently labor up to 14 hours a day in harsh weather, these workers are compensated with extremely low compensation. Then, accidents are rarely recorded in order to avoid compensating victims or their families in accordance with the law.
Both privately owned mines and the medium or small public sector frequently experience corruption and a lack of governmental authorities' commitment to enforcing labor laws and rules. As a result, mining mechanism regulation and inspection are inadequate and ineffectual. The current legal framework is archaic, out of date, and inconsistent with best practices around the world. Even though the Mines Act of 1923 is still in force, it's strange that the safety precautions it outlines are still not taken. With some of the greatest coal deposits in the world, Pakistan primarily uses manual and partially automated mining techniques. Around eight million tonnes of coal are extracted annually and used for power production, cement manufacturing, and brick kilns.
The lives of miners are seriously threatened by hazardous situations caused by intrinsic carelessness and bad working conditions. Explosions, cave-ins, and equipment accidents provide a very high risk of death and injury in mines and quarries, with coalmines accounting for the majority of fatal and non-fatal incidents. These mishaps and events aren't accurately documented or kept track of. At least 120 workers each year lose their lives in mining operations in the mineral-rich Balochistan alone, which has roughly 350 large-scale coal mines and tens of thousands of smaller, uncontrolled mines employing about 40,000 people. Six coal miners perished in a mine explosion in the Hannai District in December 2022, according to current sources.
Approximately 15,000 miners are employed at the coal mining hub of Darry Adam Keel, which is close to Peshawar. These mines are mostly forbidden. In recent years, the area has seen a many, numerous accident reports. On November 30, 2023, a coal mine collapsed in Orakzai District, killing nine miners and injuring four more as a result of an explosion brought on by gas buildup. Unfortunately, these terrible events that leave workers dead, hurt, or in need of assistance keep happening. In fact, because of rising unemployment and the government's lack of concern, the situation of miners has gotten worse recently. Terrorism and the terrible state of law and order only make the issue worse.
The risks of methane gas poisoning and carbon monoxide suffocation are present for miners. The miners typically receive no protective equipment, there is inadequate ventilation, and no equipment for detecting harmful gases is present on the site. Similarly, even when they are accessible, rescue, firefighting, and ambulance equipment is insufficient. Occupational diseases also wreak havoc on the mining industry. Spinal injuries, severe lung and heart conditions, and other health problems are brought on by coal exposure. Sadly, the medical facilities at or close to the mine site are not up to par.
With standards for mine owners and rights for workers, the ILO, Convention on Safety and Health in Mines lays forth a framework to establish a safe mining environment, thereby constructing inspection mechanisms that can enforce safety. Thus, it is anticipated that the Convention's implementation will contribute to the growth of a domestic mining industry that is more socially and environmentally conscious and may even gain international recognition. Will it be possible to successfully implement the Convention in the near future in order to minimize the ongoing loss of life in mines?
You must be logged in to post a comment.