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APPROACH / OUR 3 PILLAR APPROACH

Our 3-pillar approach

– a holistic path toward responsible mica
supply chains

Building a fair, responsible, sustainable, 
and child-labor-free mica industry

Through the implementation of global workplace standards, the Responsible Mica Initiative promotes responsible practices across all upstream value chains, including the payment of legal minimum wages. Though, the Responsible Mica Initiative is also working hard beyond legal minimum wages, towards payment of at least living incomes and wages, with the conviction that, if adults earn sufficient revenues to sustain their entire family, they won’t take their children to the mica mines.

The three pillars driving sustainable change

Pillar 1 – Promoting transparency and responsible workplace practices

RMI promotes responsible sourcing and accountability throughout the mica value chain. A prerequisite to support implementation of workplace standards and verification systems at mica processing site and mine level lies in traceability and transparency. Officially launched in 2021, RMI traceability platform serves as a pivotal tool in RMI's ongoing mission to bring transparency to the mica industry's complex supply chains.

Pillar 2 – Fostering governance 
and an enabling legal environment 

Under this pillar RMI focus its efforts on strengthening governance structures and legal frameworks at national and regional levels, ensuring mica mining activities are formally recognized, regulated, and monitored.

Pillar 2 – Fostering governance
and an enabling legal environment 

Under this pillar RMI focus its efforts on strengthening governance structures and legal frameworks at national and regional levels, ensuring mica mining activities are formally recognized, regulated, and monitored.

Pillar 3 – Empowering workers and communities

Through strong partnerships with local NGOs, government administrations, local community-based institutions, local elected representatives, as well as via recruitment of expert persons, RMI works at the village level to empower marginalized mica-dependent communities and children.

A holistic approach to end child labor

Eradicating child labor is at the heart of RMI’s mission. The initiative’s workplace standards apply a zero-tolerance policy toward child labor across all mica supply chains. By supporting the formalization and legal recognition of mica mining activities, RMI helps make child protection laws and conventions enforceable on the ground.
In parallel, the initiative invests in capacity building for adults, poverty alleviation, and education and child rights awareness within mining communities – tackling the root causes of child labor and enabling lasting change for children and their parents alike.
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Paving the way toward living wages
and decent work

Through the implementation of global workplace standards, the Responsible Mica Initiative promotes responsible practices across all upstream value chains, including the payment of at least legal minimum wages. Though, the Responsible Mica Initiative is also working hard beyond legal minimum wages, towards payment of living incomes and wages, with the conviction that, if adults earn sufficient revenues to sustain their entire family, they won’t take their children to the mica mines. This exercise requires addressing several technical barriers, beginning with the formalization of mica mining, greater transparency, and the introduction of formal payment mechanisms – all of which can be supported by the other pillars of the RMI

Collective efforts for lasting impact

RMI’s success is built on collaboration between industry members, NGOs, community leaders, and governments, all being responsibility bearers and part of the solution. Together, these partners address every dimension 
of the mica sector challenge — from improving working conditions to securing a living wage or income for families and ensuring that no child is left behind.

Through this united, holistic approach, the Responsible Mica Initiative is building a future where mica is sourced responsibly, communities are empowered, and children’s rights are fully protected. 

Through this united, holistic approach, the Responsible Mica Initiative is building a future where mica is sourced responsibly, communities are empowered, and children’s rights are fully protected.