Abstract
This study assesses the role of mining companies in providing social security benefits to mining workers and the local community. It has used primary data collected from adult mining workers in 257 households working in public and private sector mines. The result finds inadequate social security benefits are delivered to mining workers and the local people. The profit-making behavior of mining companies, casual job contracts of workers, and poor monitoring and implementation of the mining laws are primarily responsible for workers’ deprivation from such fundamental rights. However, we observed that publicly managed mines are relatively better than privately managed mines in providing social security to the workers and area. In this context, recommendations of the study include strict implementation of mine laws, permanent job contract to workers, provision of employment for women both in open-cast and underground mines with proper social protection and security, necessary infrastructural development in the locality, and involvement of professional social workers to fight against the violation of human rights in the mining periphery.