LOS EFECTOS DEL COVID-19 SOBRE EL EMPLEO EN LA MINERÍA

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development analyzes the socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on employment within the mining sector. It examines immediate disruptions to labor and supply chains, the varying risks across the mining lifecycle, and the short-term responses from governments and corporations. The document concludes with strategic recommendations to build long-term resilience through automation, local procurement, and updated regulatory frameworks.

• The mining industry's direct contribution to a country's total employment is relatively low, typically ranging between 1% and 2%, due to the sector's high capital intensity.
• Despite low direct employment, large-scale mining is critical for remote areas where it often serves as the primary or sole source of jobs and essential services, including education and healthcare. Additionally, it creates significant indirect and induced economic opportunities that can contribute up to 15% of national income in some countries.
• Employment risks vary across the mining lifecycle; the construction phase is the most labor-intensive and relies heavily on contract workers, making it highly vulnerable to disruptions. For example, in Peru, the Quellaveco copper project saw at least 8,000 of its 10,000 construction workers displaced during a 15-day quarantine.
• The pandemic has created disparate impacts based on the type of mineral produced. Energy-related commodities like coal were generally exempt from lockdowns, while metals such as copper, zinc, and nickel suffered severe production and price drops. Conversely, gold prices increased as it served as a safe haven.
• Major mining companies significantly reduced their 2020 capital expenditure forecasts. Glencore planned to reduce spending from USD 5.5 billion to between USD 4 and 4.5 billion; Rio Tinto cut its forecast by at least USD 1 billion from an initial USD 7 billion; and Anglo American revised its guidelines by approximately USD 1 billion.
• The pandemic may accelerate the adoption of labor-saving technologies and automation to reduce future risks and costs. While total automation is unlikely in the near term due to complexity and cost, automated sites—such as those in Pilbara, Australia, and the Syama mine in Mali—maintained operations more effectively than labor-intensive sites.

APA

Ramdoo, I. (2020). LOS EFECTOS DEL COVID-19 SOBRE EL EMPLEO EN LA MINERÍA. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2020-08/covid-19-employment-mining-es.pdf

Chicago

Ramdoo, Isabelle. LOS EFECTOS DEL COVID-19 SOBRE EL EMPLEO EN LA MINERÍA. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2020. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2020-08/covid-19-employment-mining-es.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Ramdoo |first1=Isabelle |title=LOS EFECTOS DEL COVID-19 SOBRE EL EMPLEO EN LA MINERÍA |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=June 2020 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2020-08/covid-19-employment-mining-es.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{ramdoo2020los, author = {Ramdoo, Isabelle}, title = {{LOS EFECTOS DEL COVID-19 SOBRE EL EMPLEO EN LA MINERÍA}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2020}, month = jun, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2020-08/covid-19-employment-mining-es.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }