By Lina María Valencia, EL TIEMPO, April 16, 2025
(Translated by Eunice Gibson, CSN Volunteer Translator)
In Colombia, artisanal mining is a reality that raises some questions, and requires concrete protective actions on the part of the government. For many, extracting gold, coal, and other minerals is not just an occupation, it’s their only option for survival. That’s why we can’t ignore the fact that this activity, which is marked by lack of formality, lack of security, and the presence of armed groups, has become a deadly trap: a place where labor brings little dignity and judges too frequently.
According to the National Mining Agency, more than 60% of mining in this country is informal or illegal. That means that the majority of artisanal miners are facing a brutal reality: they work without access to social security, with rudimentary tools, and under conditions that would defy any safety standard. It’s not by chance that in 2023, the Ministry of Mining and Energy reported an alarming 15% increase in fatal accidents in informal mines. And that’s not all: add to this human tragedy, the exploitation of children, the contamination with mercury, and the violence generated by the armed groups who see in these operations a way of financing their own activities.
Looking at all this, together with a team of teachers and students at the GranColombia Polytechnic Institute, we proposed to analyze the protections for mine workers under existing labor laws governing the mining sector, and explain the conditions that ought to be promoted in order to achieve a decent workplace. Our research project made us confront a reality in our country that we can never forget.
The laws in Colombia have attempted to respond to this crisis. Statute 685 of 2001, known as the Mining Code, tries to promote formalization in mining, and Decree 1666 in 2016 established mechanisms to facilitate that process. However, we can’t ignore the fact that the bureaucracy, the lack of mining titles, and the legal persecution of small miners have left the road practically impassable. Meanwhile, the criminalization of these workers only sinks them deeper into necessity and illegality.
“While urgent measures are not being taken, thousands of miners are continuing to struggle to be recognized and to work in decent conditions.”
But the problem isn’t just the labor issues. Artisanal mining also affects the environment and the social fabric in a devastating manner. The deforestation and the mercury contamination in the rivers are destroying entire communities, jeopardizing their access to food security and potable water. According to Ideam (Institute for Hydrology, Meteorology, and Environmental Studies), more than 100,000 hectares of forest have been leveled by informal mining in the last decade.
What can we do about a prospect like this one? The answer is not in repression. In our research, we concluded that there has to be an integrated public policy that allows artisanal miners to have land titles, training, and formal markets. Experiences in other countries have demonstrated that technical and financial accompaniment, together with clear and applicable regulations can transform this activity into a safe and sustainable option.
In addition, we found that it’s crucial to implement a specific regulation that provides social and labor protection as well as training in mining health and safety. It’s also necessary to eliminate bureaucratic barriers that are now making it hard to obtain permits and licenses, and also to facilitate the formalization process with economic incentives and technical assistance. But there’s something more: it’s fundamental to reinforce the dialog between the mining communities, the government, and the social organizations, in order to come up with inclusive public policies that respond to the real necessities of these people.
As long as we don’t take these urgent measures, thousands of miners will continue to struggle for recognition and decent working conditions. Artisanal mining in Colombia is not just an economic activity; it’s a deeply rooted tradition that deserves a fair place in legislation and public policy. It’s time to change direction, time to guarantee that the people who extract the riches from Colombian soil don’t have to keep on doing it at the cost of their lives.