The Mining Industry

Primary Resources

"The Private Sector and HIV/AIDS in Africa: Taking Stock of Six Years of Applied Research. S Rosen, F Feeley, P Connelly, JL Simon. Boston University Center for International Health and Development." June, 14 2006.

“AIDS and Mining.” The World Bank. Website.

Findings

Impact

The mining sector is a major sector in most national economies in the SADC region, not only in terms of the number of people employed but also the foreign exchange generated by mineral exports. In South Africa, experts believe that the industry hardest hit by HIV/AIDS will be mining. Studies of the sector show HIV infection rates from one-quarter to almost one-half of the country’s miners. Zambia has a similar problem, where copper accounts for 75% of the country’s export earnings, and 18% of the copper miners (a skilled workforce) are estimated to be HIV positive. In Botswana, where diamonds account for 80% of export earnings and half of the government’s total revenue, a third of the industry’s employees are estimated to be HIV positive.

Implications for Mining Operations
· Workforce sickness, absenteeism, and turnover
· Cost of training programs
· Lost productivity
· Medical, disability and life insurance
· Company as surrogate family provider
· Mine sites perfect venues for disease spread

A Case of South Africa:
· 20% of coal miners and 30% of gold miners are HIV+
· these prevalence rates are 17% higher than base population
· in 5 years 5-10% of company workforce will start to die
· total productivity loss of 20%
· by 2010 life expectancy falls to 37 (female) 38 (male)
· average cost of benefits could triple over 10 years
· attacks 25-45 year olds who subsidize benefits of retirees
· savings used to treat illness, reducing retirement benefits
· vastly increased expenses on health infrastructure

Response

· Due diligence: employee health surveys
· Workplace sensitization, counseling and education
· Cooperative efforts with national and international campaigns
· Condom availability and education in use
· Provision of STD treatment and other health care
· Provide accommodations for families
· Support community programs

Primary Resource information

"HIV/AIDS Guide for the Mining Sector: A Resource for Developing Stakeholder Competency and Compliance in Mining Communities in Southern Africa" (Draft for pilot testing). IFC. 2004.

“AIDS and Mining.” The World Bank. Website.

Additional Resources

Elias, Ralph and Ian Taylor. “HIV/AIDS, The Mining and Minerals Sector and Sustainable Development in Southern Africa.” MMSD Research Topic 2 Draft Report. 2001.

“Botswana, Mining giant fights workplace HIV/AIDS.” NEWSfromAFRICA. 2003.

“South African Mining Giant to Give Anti-AIDS Treatment to All Its Workers.” The Body. August 6, 2002.