Social Sustainable Development and Gender Equality in Mining Companies and Communities

摘要

This paper introduces a discussion on the interplay between the social sustainable development in the global mining industry, in local mining work organisations and in the surrounding local societies. Results from a gender study of Northland Resources' new mine site in Pajala, a small community in northern Sweden, form the empirical base. Migration, education, local culture, labour market and work organisation are discussed from a gender theoretical perspective. The results show some gender-related problems and opportunities - in both the local surrounding culture and the mining companies themselves. The results also show that mining companies of today work consciously and strategically with gender equality, among other organizational, economical and managerial issues. But gender equality issues are complex and in many ways a joint challenge for the mining sector, the companies and the local communities. There is need for more knowledge on how to practically do gender equality and social sustainable development.