Table of Contents
Forced Labor or Trafficking in Persons cited by U.S. Government
Child Labor cited by U.S. Government
Risk of Forced Labor or Trafficking in Persons cited by other source
Risk of Child Labor cited by other source
Documented presence of migrant workers
Documented presence of other vulnerable workers
Documented presence or significant likelihood of third-party labor recruiters
Large numbers of dispersed, unorganized, or informal small producers or other worksites
Multiple points of aggregation, co-mingling, and/or transformation across supply chain
Complex/opaque supply chains and/or lack of vertical integration
High degree of flexibility in procurement practices of downstream entities
Scale or nature of risk is strongly associated with certain types of suppliers/entities
Scale or nature of risk is present across multiple tiers or nodes of supply chain (including in associated downstream or upstream goods)
Scale or nature of risk varies significantly based on geographic area of production
Gold is mined through hard-rock or alluvial mining, both of which are labor-intensive. Once mined, the gold is separated through gravity concentration or chemical processes (often involving the use of highly toxic chemicals, such as mercury and arsenic). Gold moves between a complicated network of consolidators, intermediaries, and exporters as it is transported from mines to refineries to be processed. Once gold reaches the refineries, it becomes even more difficult to identify its origin; gold from all over the world may be mixed and processed in a single refinery. Refineries then sell the processed gold to banks, jewelry companies, and electronic producers around the world.24The Nexus of Illegal Gold Mining and Human Trafficking in Global Supply Chains. Verité, 2016, www.verite.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Verite-Report-Illegal_Gold_Mining-2.pdf.
Gold mined from countries embroiled in conflict is more likely to have been smuggled at some point in the gold supply chain. Gold smuggling allows gold that has been mined from sites illegally controlled by armed groups to enter legitimate supply chains. It also encourages other illegal gold mining activities and decreases government revenue.25Shoko, Janet. “Zimbabwe losing millions to gold smuggling.” The Africa Report, 2014, www.theafricareport.com/Southern-Africa/zimbabwe-losing-millions-to-gold-smuggling.html.
Gold is commonly used in electronics and computer manufacturing.
Gold is widely used to produce jewelry and other luxury items.