【Butha Buthe,】Beyond the Sparkle: Advancing Workers’ Rights in the Diamond Sector

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Editor’s Note

This report details a recent meeting of the global IndustriALL Diamond Network in Lesotho, where stakeholders convened to strategize on improving labor standards across the diamond industry’s complex value chain.

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Global Diamond Network Meets in Lesotho

The global IndustriALL Diamond Network convened on February 20-21 in the picturesque highlands of Lesotho’s Butha Buthe district, home to the country’s diamond mines, to develop a strategy for promoting decent work within the diamond industry.

The diamond industry value chain includes mining, trading of rough diamonds, cutting, polishing, as well as jewelry manufacturing, setting, and retail.

Reports on Worker Rights Violations

The 20 participants from the Global Diamond Network came from producer countries such as Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. Other participants came from Belgium, home to Antwerp, a historic hub for diamond traders, cutters, and polishers.

Reports from mining countries highlighted violations of workers’ rights and deficits in decent work, including precarious working conditions, low wages, lack of job security, long working hours, gender-based discrimination, violations of maternity protection, as well as the dismantling and harassment of unions. Meeting participants reported that diamond mining companies fail to provide adequate personal protective equipment and do not comply with health and safety standards.

Commitments and Strategies

Participants committed to strengthening union capacities in collective bargaining through targeted training and learning initiatives aimed at improving negotiation skills in the extraction, polishing, and cutting sectors. They argued that this would strengthen and promote knowledge transfer through exchanges and solidarity activities between unions. Furthermore, the meeting highlighted the importance of gender equality in the diamond industry, advocating for better representation of women.

The network encouraged unions to join the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) and to use the IRMA standard for responsible mining, as it is comprehensive and holds mining companies accountable through audits and assessments. Additionally, the meeting addressed the issue of cooperation with non-governmental organizations on human rights due diligence. However, the network urged unions to remain focused on the diamond industry’s compliance with national and international labor standards.

Highlighting the development potential of diamond extraction in Southern countries, the network emphasized the need for concerned companies to engage in responsible mining practices and ethical sourcing to contribute to job creation, economic growth, and sustainable development.

Through the network, the Belgian union CSC Transcom and IndustriALL supported the construction of the office of the Independent Democratic Union of Lesotho (IDUL) in Kao village to facilitate access to recruitment and unionization of miners.

Statements from Union Leaders

Yves Toutenel, General Secretary in charge of the CSC-Transcom Diamant union and Co-Chair of the IndustriALL diamond network, stated:

“As we organize this network meeting, nestled in the heart of Southern Africa, we are not only surrounded by the breathtaking landscapes of this nation, but also by the rich heritage and potential of the diamond trade that pulses through its veins.”
“Lesotho holds a special place in the world of diamonds. Its mines have produced some of the most remarkable stones, captivating hearts and minds worldwide. Yet, beyond the sparkle of these precious stones lies a deeper narrative, one of resilience, sense of community, and shared prosperity.”

Annelies Deman, Federal Secretary of the Centrale Générale FGTB, congratulated the network:

“I met comrades who are doing excellent work in the diamond industry, we shared our challenges, learned from each other, and established priority action points for the future of the network.”

May Rathakane, General Secretary of IDUL, stated:

“We are grateful for the support and solidarity we have received as part of our campaign to unionize diamond workers in Lesotho.”

Mpho Phakedi, Acting General Secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), indicated:

“As unions, we must not tolerate unfair labor practices in the diamond industry and must use collective bargaining, global framework agreements, and ILO standards as tools to achieve decent working conditions.”

Glen Mpufane, IndustriALL Director for Mining, Diamonds, Gems, and Ornaments, insisted:

“It is important that the network develops strategies that strengthen collective bargaining, which remains one of the most effective tools for unions.”
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⏰ Published on: February 23, 2024