The International Labor Organization (ILO) is embarking on a project to develop and implement strategies to reduce child labor and improve working conditions in Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM).

They are doing this in partnership with some major stakeholders including the Ministry of Employment and Labor Relations (MELR), the Minerals Commission, the Ghana National Association of Small-scale Miners (GNASSM) and Social Mobilization Partners against Child Labor (SOMOPAC) among others.

This forms part of measures to enhance decent work and provide social protection services and improved livelihood programs to vulnerable households living in ASGM communities.

Despite the potential of ASGM to contribute to the well-being of its workers, the sector has earned a bad image due to the dangerous nature of the work, poor working conditions, the devastation of the environment and child labor.

The Project strategy is scheduled for a 40 month period and premised on the notion that ASGM can make a valuable contribution to local and national economies.

As part of the project, the organization with some partners will embark on a number of trips to survey some selected mining communities, to assess the current working conditions of the people as well as find out the situation on child labor.

From this information, they will develop strategies and implement them in line with their ultimate objective.

The ILO argues that with the right encouragement and support provided through this project, its stakeholders, public authorities, and in particular the economic actors in the sector, they can make significant progress towards solving the problems associated with ASGM.