Many mining companies are not actually implementing their own policies concerning key commitments towards human rights and health and safety, according to a new assessment from the Responsible Mining Index (RMI) 2018.

The Responsible Mining Foundation, a non-profit organisation based in the Netherlands, released its first RMI report in April 2018. The report aims to reflect the Foundation’s support of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, evaluating companies that produce 25% of all mined commodities globally on economic, environmental, social, and governance (EESG) issues.

The report says companies do not always reinforce their policies around EESG issues with “systematic, effective company-wide action,” revealing that there was little to no action taken where “companies would be expected to act.” Especially around human rights, there were minimal efforts by companies in monitoring mining’s impact on children or providing fair wages that are on par with living standards.

In addition, there was a lack of transparency within companies with regards to reporting their performance to other stakeholders and mining-affected communities...