The use of child labor and poor working conditions in the mica supply chain originating in the Indian states of Bihar and Jharkhand is a result of a variety of causes. These include the lack of a legal framework for the mica mining sector, an underrepresented and underserved demographic, lack of health and education services and infrastructure, remoteness and poverty, and political instability. To address these multiple root causes and achieve the Responsible Mica Initiative’s goal of eradicating child labor by 2022 and establishing a fair and responsible mica supply chain, RMI developed, launched and is continuously expanding three program pillars.
The three programs work together and rely on voluntary collaboration among RMI’s members, RMI’s implementing civil society organizations (CSO) partners and industry and community stakeholders who bring technical expertise in their field and knowledge of the region and the mica sector.
