Mining, standards and rights at work

International labour standards on mining

The ILO has been dealing with labour and social problems of the mining industry since its early days, making considerable efforts to improve work and life of those in the mining industry -- from the adoption of the Hours of Work (Coal Mines) Convention (No. 31) in 1931 to the Safety and Health in Mines Convention (No. 176), which was adopted by the International Labour Conference in 1995.

For over 50 years, tripartite meetings on mining have addressed a variety of issues ranging from employment, working conditions and training to occupational safety and health and industrial relations in coal and non-coal mining. The results are over 140 agreed conclusions and resolutions, many of which have been used at the national level, or have triggered ILO action, including a variety of training and assistance programmes in member States. Others led to the development of codes of safe practice and the Safety and Health in Mines Convention.

The Safety and Health in Mines Convention (No. 176) and its accompanying Recommendation (No. 183) is particularly important because:

• special hazards are faced by mineworkers;
  
• the mining industry in many countries is assuming increasing importance;
  
• earlier ILO standards on occupational safety and health, as well as the existing legislation in many countries, are inadequate to deal with the specific needs of mining.
  

A short overview of the main features of the Convention and the Recommendation can be found here.

Links to labour standard information in other ILO departments

ILO Conventions (ILOLEX database)

• C31 (Withdrawn) Hours of Work (Coal Mines) Convention, 1931. Ratifications.
  
• C45 Underground Work (Women) Convention, 1935. Ratifications.
  
• C46 (Withdrawn) Hours of Work (Coal Mines) Convention (Revised), 1935. Ratifications.
  
• C123 Minimum Age (Underground Work) Convention, 1965. Ratifications.
  
• C124 Medical Examination of Young Persons (Underground Work) Convention, 1965. Ratifications.
  
• C176 Safety and Health in Mines Convention, 1995. Ratifications.
  

National labour legislation (NATLEX database)

• National legislation dealing with mining

Committee of Freedom of Association

• Cases related to the mining sector