Fatshimetrie: Study of the inclusion of Congolese cobalt in the 2024 list of the United States Department of Labor
The issue of the inclusion of Congolese cobalt in the 2024 list of goods produced by child or forced labor, established by the United States Department of Labor, was recently at the heart of discussions at the Hilton Hotel in Kinshasa. The Roundtable organized by the Cobalt Institute allowed the Vice Minister of Mines, Godard Motemona, to advocate for this inclusion, sparking a heated debate among operators in the mining sector.
In a context where ethics and responsibility in the exploitation of natural resources are at the center of global concerns, the issue of the traceability of Congolese cobalt is of crucial importance. Godard Motemona stressed the importance for the DRC to have its cobalt recognized as being extracted ethically and responsibly, in order to guarantee its place on the international market.
However, dissenting voices were heard at the Roundtable, with experts from the Congolese mining sector questioning the US Department of Labor’s decision. They stressed that the decision was based on an isolated case and did not reflect the overall reality of the Congolese mining sector. In addition, the methodology used to reach this conclusion was criticized, as the US authorities did not bother to visit industrial companies operating in the country to assess their ethical practices and working conditions.
The presence of the US Department of Labor’s Division Chief for the African Region, Chanda Uluca, at this Roundtable is a testament to the importance of this topic on an international scale. It is crucial to foster constructive dialogue between the different actors involved in the exploitation of Congolese cobalt, in order to find sustainable solutions that respect international standards for respecting human rights.
In conclusion, the issue of including Congolese cobalt in the US Department of Labor’s 2024 list raises major ethical and economic issues for the DRC and for the global mining sector. It is imperative that all stakeholders work together to ensure responsible exploitation of natural resources and promote ethical practices throughout the supply chain.