Small-scale gold miners in East Africa are being trained by Fairtrade Foundation, a UK-based charity organisation, to embrace safe working practices and eradicate child labour at mining sites. Fairtrade said an initiative to minimise life threatening incidents associated with dangerous mining sites has brought artisanal and small-scale mining organisations (ASMSOs) from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania on board.

Fairtrade standards include protecting the environment by minimising use of mercury, promoting personal safety equipment, eliminating child labour and promoting better working conditions and equal treatment of men and women. Miners are required to extract gold from crushed ore using mercury in concrete pits to ensure toxins do not reach rivers and waterways. [refers to Cred Jewellery]