Gemfields Investigates Slavery Groups at Ruby Mine

RAPAPORT... Gemfields has discovered illegal miners working formodern-slavery syndicates at its Montepuez ruby mine in Mozambique, after noticing a rise in the number of deaths caused by illegal-pit collapses at the site. The miners, some of whom are juveniles, are poverty-strickenand unemployed individuals recruited by well-financed syndicate leaders ormiddlemen, Gemfields said last week. The recruiters offer to pay for tools,food, water and accommodation for these workers, to be repaid through the saleof rubies they mine. The illegal miners then become indebted to the syndicates,and are unable to pay them back, Gemfields noted. A number of these miners havebeen killed when the illegal pits in which they were operating collapsed. The miner has consulted with the Mozambican government,which is currently working to identify the source of the activities.Additionally, Gemfields has been providing assistance in rescue-and-recoveryoperations, it said, as well as increasing the signage warnings on its siteregarding the dangers of illegal mining. Image: Rubies from the Montepuez ruby mine. (Gemfields)