Rio Tinto workplace review finds incidents of racism and bullying
Findings published in year-long study surveying 10,000 employees.
An internal workplace review carried out by mining operator Rio Tinto has revealed incidents of sexual assault, racism and bullying.
The 85-page report, produced by the former Australian sex discrimination commissioner Elizabeth Broderick includes responses from 10,000 workers, nearly half of which said they had experienced bullying.
The investigation was commissioned by the firm's CEO Jakob Stausholm on taking up the post in March 2020. It followed the company’s controversial operations that destroyed the Juukan Gorge rock shelters in Western Australia when expanding an iron ore mine.
Experts suggest the findings highlight a wider attitude among the sector, and investors praised Rio Tinto for making the study transparent.
'This shouldn't be left to Rio Tinto. This is an industry problem. It's a society problem. It's no good them solving the problem on their side and it continues elsewhere,' Greg Busson, the Mining and Energy Union's Western Australia state secretary told Reuters.
The company plan to implement all 26 recommendations that Broderick put forward in the report.
The full report can be read here.
