The Barrick Pueblo Viejo mining company, which operates the Cotuí gold mine, Sánchez Ramírez province, has 600 women miners on its payroll, representing more than a fifth of its payroll, as employees, among whom 75 are working in science areas such as engineering, geology, laboratory and other changes that were generally occupied by men.
Barrick Pueblo Viejo’s gender inclusion and equality policy is not a pose, but rather a constant practice, ranging from training and motivating women to venture into professional and technical areas related to mining, to the placement of these in command positions, such as management and other important occupations.
The president of Barrick Pueblo Viejo, Juana Barceló, who is also the head of the Oil and Mining Chamber of the Dominican Republic (Camipe), announced an alliance between these companies and the organization Women in Mining (WIM) Central America, to strengthen job opportunities that guarantee financial independence, professional growth and participation of Dominican women in the mining industry.
The alliance was announced during the presentation “The participation of women in mining”, which was held at the Intercontinental hotel in the Dominican capital. Barceló, along with the mine’s general manager, Megan Tibbals, represented the company, while its founder, Ana Gabriela Juárez, represented the international organization.
“In 2018 we began the path to create opportunities without distinction of gender and we witness how the increase in female labor participation in the mine is changing the lives of many families, since a large number of women are heads of household, single mothers that, by having a job, they have the opportunity to support their home, to educate their children, to have their own roof”, said the president of Barrick.
He said that the initiatives carried out in terms of gender equality have allowed Pueblo Viejo to be the first Dominican mining company to obtain the Igualando RD Seal for three consecutive years (2020, 2021 and 2022), receiving the GOLD level, the highest distinction. of this certification.
On her side, Ana Juárez stated that the WIM network has a presence in more than 100 countries and that it has become a benchmark in the mining sector in addressing issues such as job promotion, inclusion, diversity and education, working hand in hand with companies. mining companies, private and public institutions, governments and civil society.
The executive invited other companies and entities linked to the mining sector to join the initiative that contributes to strengthening mining globally.