Child labour
Philippines pioneers responsible and ethical gold brand in Fashion Week
The Philippines blazed the trail for responsible and ethical gold from artisanal and small-scale gold mines (ASGM) with the launch of the Compassionate Gold brand at the Philippine Fashion Week. The Compassionate Gold is among the innovative solutions to address child labour and to promote decent work.
The Philippines blazed the trail for responsible and ethical gold from artisanal and small-scale gold mines (ASGM) with the launch of the Compassionate Gold brand at the Philippine Fashion Week. The Compassionate Gold is among the innovative solutions to address child labour and to promote decent work.
The artisanal and small-scale gold mines in the Philippines accounts for 80 per cent of gold production, which is largely unregulated. Miners often work long hours, in dangerous and poor working conditions. Meanwhile, about 19,000 children work in 45 small-scale gold mines, considered as one of the worst forms of child labour.
The International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Caring Gold Mining Project is leading initiatives and innovative solutions to end child labour and to improve working conditions. The project is funded by the United States Department of Labor (USDOL). ILO works with BAN Toxics to reach out to mining communities in Camarines Norte and South Cotabato, and to help them transition from the informal to formal economy.
“Some of the products that we use daily could have been made by a child. Companies may buy raw goods and materials without knowing that those were produced under dangerous and poor working conditions. Tackling child labour in small scale gold mines and in supply chains requires joint efforts,” said Khalid Hassan, Director of the ILO Country Office for the Philippines.
Compassionate Gold is the gold brand that aims to uplift the lives of miners, their families and mining communities. It aims to transform the ASGM sector by ensuring that the source of gold follows these specific criteria:
Philippine Fashion Week is a pioneer for the Manila fashion industry, born out of a passion for developing local talent. The event has transformed itself to be an avenue for Filipino designers across the world to showcase their talent and creativity into the global community.
For his part, Audie Espino, founder of the Philippine Fashion Week, emphasized how proud he is that the Philippine Fashion Week will serve as a platform for change in the ASGM sector. “I am very proud to say that change will start in the Philippines. We will be the first in the world to launch this kind of initiative and we hope that Compassionate Gold will serve as a model for countries to emulate.”
The creative team behind the Philippine Fashion Week has been advised by some of the biggest names in the global industry, from Fern Mallis – creator of 7th on Sixth Productions (New York Fashion Week) to Simon Lock – founder of Australian Fashion Week. With their experience in fashion-related event production across the world, the team influenced local suppliers to upgrade their equipment to global standards, gave expert business consultancy for brands, and introduced new ideas for creative marketing for activations, as well as highlighting the value of technology's role in the fashion industry.
The Compassionate Gold brand launch was witnessed by representatives from local and national gov-ernment agencies, non-government organizations, and fashion enthusiasts. Guests included Human Rights Commissioner Gwendolyn Pimentel-Gana, Department of Interior and Local Government Assistant Secretary Marjorie Jalosjos, Penson and Company, Inc. President Richard Penson, among others.
Compassionate Gold is currently being piloted in the municipality of T’boli in South Cotabato. To ensure the integrity of the brand, a multipartite monitoring team is currently being set up composed of government, non-government and mining groups, to certify compliance.
Stay tuned for the showing of a line of Compassionate Gold jewelry in the Philippine Fashion Week in November 2018.
ILO Country Office for the Philippines - Manila
+63 2 580 9905 or 580 9900
Email
Ms Arleen Grace Taguba
ILO Caring Gold Project
+63 2 580 9904 or 580 9900
Email
The artisanal and small-scale gold mines in the Philippines accounts for 80 per cent of gold production, which is largely unregulated. Miners often work long hours, in dangerous and poor working conditions. Meanwhile, about 19,000 children work in 45 small-scale gold mines, considered as one of the worst forms of child labour.
The International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Caring Gold Mining Project is leading initiatives and innovative solutions to end child labour and to improve working conditions. The project is funded by the United States Department of Labor (USDOL). ILO works with BAN Toxics to reach out to mining communities in Camarines Norte and South Cotabato, and to help them transition from the informal to formal economy.
“Some of the products that we use daily could have been made by a child. Companies may buy raw goods and materials without knowing that those were produced under dangerous and poor working conditions. Tackling child labour in small scale gold mines and in supply chains requires joint efforts,” said Khalid Hassan, Director of the ILO Country Office for the Philippines.
Compassionate Gold is the gold brand that aims to uplift the lives of miners, their families and mining communities. It aims to transform the ASGM sector by ensuring that the source of gold follows these specific criteria:
- part of formal economy;
- legally-operated;
- employs environmentally-sound practices;
- does not use mercury;
- promotes decent working conditions;
- has no gender inequality;
- has no child labour;
- does not contribute to armed conflict; and
- has transparent supply chains.
Philippine Fashion Week is a pioneer for the Manila fashion industry, born out of a passion for developing local talent. The event has transformed itself to be an avenue for Filipino designers across the world to showcase their talent and creativity into the global community.
For his part, Audie Espino, founder of the Philippine Fashion Week, emphasized how proud he is that the Philippine Fashion Week will serve as a platform for change in the ASGM sector. “I am very proud to say that change will start in the Philippines. We will be the first in the world to launch this kind of initiative and we hope that Compassionate Gold will serve as a model for countries to emulate.”
The creative team behind the Philippine Fashion Week has been advised by some of the biggest names in the global industry, from Fern Mallis – creator of 7th on Sixth Productions (New York Fashion Week) to Simon Lock – founder of Australian Fashion Week. With their experience in fashion-related event production across the world, the team influenced local suppliers to upgrade their equipment to global standards, gave expert business consultancy for brands, and introduced new ideas for creative marketing for activations, as well as highlighting the value of technology's role in the fashion industry.
The Compassionate Gold brand launch was witnessed by representatives from local and national gov-ernment agencies, non-government organizations, and fashion enthusiasts. Guests included Human Rights Commissioner Gwendolyn Pimentel-Gana, Department of Interior and Local Government Assistant Secretary Marjorie Jalosjos, Penson and Company, Inc. President Richard Penson, among others.
Compassionate Gold is currently being piloted in the municipality of T’boli in South Cotabato. To ensure the integrity of the brand, a multipartite monitoring team is currently being set up composed of government, non-government and mining groups, to certify compliance.
Stay tuned for the showing of a line of Compassionate Gold jewelry in the Philippine Fashion Week in November 2018.
For further information please contact:
Ms Minette RimandoILO Country Office for the Philippines - Manila
+63 2 580 9905 or 580 9900
Ms Arleen Grace Taguba
ILO Caring Gold Project
+63 2 580 9904 or 580 9900