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Press contact: Harriet Edwards hedwards@electronicswatch.org

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2023 Oct 26

The "Creuseurs" ("diggers"), at the centre of the world's push for EVs, are in peril

Part two – Obstacles and opportunities to improve conditions for miners

In part one, we reported on some of the shocking working conditions that the Electronics Watch team found on our visit to cobalt mines in the DRC. Now, we look at the vested interests in Congolese politics, the mining industry, the Congolese government's desire to regulate the cobalt supply chain, and what else might be done to improve conditions.

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2023 Oct 25

The "Creuseurs" ("diggers"), at the centre of the world's push for EVs, are in peril

Part One – The precarious reality of artisanal mines

Electronics Watch travelled to Kolwezi in the province of Lualaba, in the south of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Two worlds live side by side here, without ever crossing paths. On the one hand, the world of industrial mines, with their huge machines. On the other, the tens of thousands of "diggers" in small-scale artisanal mines, armed with a simple crowbar to exploit a mineral vein, in extremely dangerous conditions. The DRC alone has 80% of the world's cobalt stocks needed to manufacture batteries to serve the demand for electric vehicles, and no less than 30% of this stock is mined in an artisanal way. One to two million Congolese people depend on this production directly or indirectly, while world demand is booming.

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2023 Oct 12

New: Worker-Driven Remedy Principles

Electronics Watch publishes an updated version of its Principles of Worker-Driven Remedy, as a guiding framework for public buyers and other stakeholders to address harm to workers in supply chains. Developed in consultation with trade unions, labour rights organisations, and public buyers, the Principles put affected workers at the heart of the remediation process.

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Harriet and Anthony
2023 Jul 26

New communications colleagues at Electronics Watch

Two new communications colleagues joined us at Electronics Watch earlier this month: Harriet Edwards, Communications and Events Manager, and Anthony Silkoff, Communications Consultant. They bring vital skills to the team, which will help us continue to increase and improve communications with our stakeholders.

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Growth in every aspect
2023 Jul 5

Growth in every aspect - the key takeaway from 2022

As our recently released Annual Report shows, growth was the theme for 2022. Our team expanded from seven to seventeen with the support of affiliates and new funders. And our capacity to help public sector organisations protect the rights of workers in their electronics supply chains increased substantially.

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