Desumanização do humano na extração do caulim em Junco do Seridó/PB.

Abstract

This article constitutes a case study in the city of Junco do Serido, in Paraiba. Its main objective is to analyze whether there is compliance with the principle of human dignity in the extraction of kaolin, as well as reflect on the role of public management in the protection of this principle. As for specific objectives, we intend to identify the performance of the agencies overseeing the mining activity in the country and observe the working conditions of miners during the extraction of kaolin. Kaolin is a mineral used in various industrial sectors such as the manufacture of porcelain, load and coverage in the paper industry, raw materials for ceramics industry, tiles, electrical insulation, among others. In Brazil, kaolin mining is present in several states, however, underground mining only occurs in Paraiba and Rio Grande do Norte, where kaolin is a co-product associated with other minerals and is extracted through rudimentary processes that provide high risk to the safety and health of workers. The methodology comprised two steps. The first used a literature search and the second a survey of the field, in the mines where kaolin is mined, business processing and cooperative miners of the aforementioned city. It was found that there is non-compliance with the principle of human dignity that mining activity due to the fact that workers do not have security, decent pay and monitoring of public power.