FEITOZA, A. A.; FEITOZA, Aline Angelo.
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.
