Swiss Documentary Highlights Child Labour in DRC Cobalt Mines and The Hub for Child Labour Prevention and Remediation

Photo: A scene from the documentary featuring The Hub's Director Chadrack Kanyingu and a case manager during a family visit

Swiss news agency Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ) has released a new documentary exploring child labour in cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the role of businesses in addressing this issue as the world transitions to green energy.

Directed by award-winning filmmaker Cristina Karrer, key scenes were filmed in Kolwezi – one of the DRC’s main copper and cobalt mining hubs and home to The Hub for Child Labour Prevention and Remediation. The documentary examines the impact of mining on local communities and the responsibilities of both businesses and consumers.

As part of its focus on corporate responsibility, the documentary highlights The Hub’s work. Our local team was interviewed, and we facilitated a visit to a family enrolled in our child labour prevention programme. This provided an opportunity to showcase how companies like dormakaba—also featured in the film—are investing in The Hub as part of their long-term human rights due diligence (through a partnership with Save the Children Switzerland), even when their connections to artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) in the DRC are complex or indirect. The documentary also includes insights from the Fair Cobalt Alliance, which works with member companies to professionalise and improve the ASM sector and has been financially supporting The Hub since its launch.

The documentary is a powerful reminder that businesses must take responsibility for improving conditions in cobalt mining communities—including preventing and remediating child labour. ASM is a vital source of income for thousands of families, but with poverty being the key driver of child labour, greater investment is needed to tackle this root cause.

As demand for cobalt continues to increase with the rise of electric vehicles and the just transition, businesses can drive meaningful change by supporting initiatives that improve working conditions, foster collaboration to prevent and remediate child labour, and ensure young workers have access to safe, decent work and skill-building opportunities.

The documentary is available on YouTube. It is dubbed in German, but English subtitles can be activated by clicking “Settings” > “Subtitles” and selecting English.