KGHM recalls International Women in Mining Day

The holiday for women involved in the mining industry, celebrated on 15 June, was created by the International Women in Mining (IWIM) association. The initiative aims to raise awareness of gender equality, including in mining. The initiators of the holiday thus encourage initiatives for a more sustainable and inclusive mining industry. KGHM wishes all women working in mining safe work and professional fulfilment.

Women in the KGHM Group

KGHM employs nearly 19 thousand people in its divisions in Poland, of whom nearly 1,400 are women (7.3% of the workforce). This is due to historical conditions and the specific nature of the industry, as a result of which, due to the physically demanding working conditions, traditionally mainly men have been employed. This is not only a Polish peculiarity, as such a situation occurs in copper and mining companies all over the world.

‘At the KGHM Group, we create a space where women can develop and achieve success’, commented Magdalena Lipińska, General Director for Human Resources. ‘One element of KGHM's personnel policy is gender equality in access to jobs. It is a conscious business strategy to accept the best candidates. KGHM provides everyone - both women and men - with the same conditions for professional development, raising their qualifications, as well as the same promotion path’, she added.

Women at KGHM work, for example, in engineering positions or in research units, and are often found underground in mines, where, for example, they manage production processes, ensure the safety of raw material mining, and carry out geological and investment project work.

Mining as an industry with prospects also for the younger generations

KGHM Polska Miedź S.A., being the largest copper producer in Europe, organises a number of initiatives to encourage the young generation to become professionally involved in the mining industry in the future. The 'Competent in the Industry' programme for secondary school students enjoys a growing interest - which is also seen among girls and young women. In the current school year, several hundred people have joined KGHM-sponsored classes - including 19 female students.

One of the graduates of the 'Competent in the Industry' programme joined the staff of a KGHM division, actually paving the way for other women.

Referring to her beginnings at a mine, Iza Kożewnikow recalls: ‘When I found out, studying in a mechatronics technician class, that I was to participate in an apprenticeship in a mine, I was not very enthusiastic. But then I really liked it there and tried my hand at an internship. For almost a year, Iza has been working as an underground locksmith at the Rudna Mining Facility division.

Technical professions with growing interest among women

Young women are increasingly choosing technical professions - there is a special team at KGHM for the employment of women underground. The company is working on future-proof solutions. Analyses are being carried out on a number of aspects: legal and related to occupational safety and health, energy expenditure, health and investment. On the basis of the results, jobs are selected in which women could be hired in the future.

‘Contrary to popular belief, more and more women are working in the mining and smelting industry. Times are changing, in the past no one would have thought that women could be plane pilots or truck drivers and now there are no such barriers. Do not hesitate. With the rest of our female colleagues, we can't wait for our “ladies’” group to grow’, commented Martyna Kościelna-Szewczyk, an underground miner at the Rudna Mining Facility division.

Every year, KGHM invests heavily in innovation and in the implementation of modern technologies, thanks to which it is possible to think realistically about increasing the employment of women in production divisions.