20 January, 2022IndustriALL Global Union has joined the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) mining working group, established to develop a GRI mining standard.
The Global Sustainability Standards Board (GSSB) has appointed the Mining Working Group to develop the GRI Mining Standard.
IndustriALL has a record of sustainable development engagement across the global mining industry, with a specific focus to promote and ensure workers’ rights.
“The mining sector has been under considerable scrutiny in the human rights due diligence discourse given its position in the global supply chain and its history and current negative impacts across the economic, environmental, social and governance (EESG) matrix. We welcome the appointments of IndustriALL mining director Glen Mpufane and Peter Frövén, national OHS officer at Swedish union IF Metall, to the GRI working group,”
says Kemal Özkan, IndustriALL assistant general secretary.
The GRI sustainability reporting guidelines are widely used and allow companies and organizations to report on their EESG performance. With the GRI aligned with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Business Conduct, the voice of workers has become critical to holding companies across their supply chains accountable.
The announcement by the GRI to undertake the development of a GRI global mining standard is an important milestone that brings the force of international human due diligence to the global mining sector.
“A rigorous standard that will ensure transparency, accountability and access to remedy for workers and communities is an important consideration, as ensuring that human rights and environmental due diligence are embedded in the mining standard,”
says Glen Mpufane, IndustriALL director for mining, diamonds, gems, ornaments and jewellery production.
The Global Reporting Initiative is an independent, international organization helping businesses and other organizations to take responsibility for their impact.