The Jewellery Industry Needs a Gold Standard to Protect Workers from Abuse

In recent years, the precious metals industry has been keen to show its commitment to ethical business, notably through creating voluntary standards. The new standard is one of several international initiatives for responsible sourcing of precious metals. Most efforts have sought to create supply chains that are free of conflict minerals - that is, minerals that help finance armed groups in war.
But the RJC has managed to broaden the focus significantly, to include child labour, social, and environmental concerns. For example, it clearly prohibits the use of child labour and sets out detailed measures for "remediation" that companies have to take when they do find child workers in their facilities. It also-at long last-forbids the practice of dumping mining waste into rivers. Most important, the code strengthens the notion that companies are accountable for the human rights and environmental impact of their actions. This is a hugely important message.
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/525956/20131128/jewellery-industry-necklaces-rings-earrings-working-practices.htm