A Poisonous Mix - Human Rights Watch

mine from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and that his joints hurt him at night. 167 Some children said they
took lunch breaks or rested for a moment when they felt exhausted or in pain. 168
Artisanal mines usually have one day of rest per week for everyone, including children.
This is thought of as a day for the spirits of mining. 169
Some child laborers attend school, but work full days in gold mining during holidays and
weekends. They sometimes also work at the mines after school or skip lessons to go the
mines. 170 Of 33 child miners interviewed, 16 went to school. Most of these children were
younger and attended primary school. One child laborer who attends school was 12-yearold
Issa S., who complained the impact of long work hours on his health:
I work here with my father. I pull up the buckets with ore. It is ore mixed
with water. During school holidays, I am here every day from 7am to 6.30pm,
except Monday [rest day]…. I started working here when I was 10. My job
has always been to pull the buckets up…. I have backaches from the heavy
loads, on the lower back. It is really heavy. I would really like to stop. I don’t
have a break apart from lunch break. 171
Pay
Children who work in artisanal mines are often not paid. If they do get paid, they give most
of the money to their parents or guardians; adolescents who are by themselves often send
money to their parents. When children work for people other than their parents, they face
an additional risk of abuse and exploitation.
Children’s Economic Contribution towards Their Own Family
Many children contribute to the production process but do not obtain the gold at the end
of it. Their work is considered part of a group work product. 172
167 Human Rights Watch interview with Haroun C., age 12, Tabakoto, April 2, 2011.
168 Human Rights Watch interview with Djibril C., age 15, Worognan, April 8, 2011; Human Rights Watch interview with
Susanne D., 11, Worognan, April 8, 2011.
169 ILO, “Etude transfrontalière sur le travail des enfants dans l’orpaillage,” p. 39; Human Rights Watch interview with
representative of RAC, Kéniéba, April 2, 2011.
170 Human Rights Watch interview with Nanfadima A., estimated age 11, Tabokoto, April 2, 2011; Human Rights Watch
interview with seven women gold miners, Sensoko, April 4, 2011; Human Rights Watch interview with school director,
Worognan, April 8, 2011.
171 Human Rights Watch interview with Issa S., age 12, Tabakoto, April 2, 2011.
172 The ILO study found that 55 percent of children working with their family are not paid. ILO, “Etude transfrontalière sur le
travail des enfants dans l’orpaillage,” p. 55. The study looked at the situation of children working with their parents and
those living and working with other persons.
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