Better Health for All
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Harmony Gold's core mining activities inherently carry health risks, with 60 silicosis cases certified and 102 early noise-induced hearing loss cases in FY25, and a TB incidence rate of 364 per 100,000 employees.
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However, the company provides extensive health services, including free comprehensive health services for 25,010 employees and medical aid for 9,324 employees in FY24, covering approximately 85.8% of its workforce.
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The company reported a zero mortality rate from air pollution for communities and employees in South Africa in FY24, despite some dust exceedances and an increase in SO2 intensity.
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Harmony Gold has a comprehensive mental health program, the Khethimpilo campaign, which reached 22,151 employees with awareness campaigns and provided 9,903 confidential consultations in FY24.
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The company also provides extensive health education, including 159,462 face-to-face interactions for nutrition literacy and awareness campaigns reaching 22,151 employees in FY24.
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It supports healthcare workforce capacity by training 25 village health assistants and upskilling psychosocial teams, and addresses substance abuse through 24/7 counseling services.
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The company discloses occupational health risks and complies with air quality regulations.
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Fair Money & Economic Opportunity
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Harmony Gold is a gold mining company, and its core business does not involve lending, insuring, moving, or storing money for consumers. The provided articles detail the company's mining operations, market performance, and extensive community development and socio-economic initiatives, including significant spending on preferential procurement, community programs, and livelihood creation. However, the KPIs for "Fair Money & Economic Opportunity" are specifically designed to assess financial institutions and their consumer-facing financial products and services. As Harmony Gold does not offer such services, all KPIs related to financial products, services, or customer financial outcomes are not applicable.
Fair Pay & Worker Respect
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Harmony Gold is committed to the concept of a living wage, generally viewed as around R15,000 per month, with its minimum remuneration exceeding the statutory minimum of less than R4,000 per month.
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The company discloses a pay gap ratio between the top 5% and lowest 5% of employees, which was 7.90x in FY25 (excluding fixed-term contractors and learners) and 7.85x in FY24.
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A five-year wage agreement, covering approximately 36,000 workers, was signed with five labor unions for 2024-2029, providing bargaining-unit employees with above-inflation increases for the past six years.
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The Lost-time injury frequency rate (LTIFR) was 5.53 in FY24.
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The company reported 7 fatalities in FY24
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and 11 fatalities in FY25
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at its South African operations. Harmony states that men and women are paid equally for equivalent roles.
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In FY21, there were 9,654 contractors.
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Company benefits include employer provident/pension fund and medical aid.
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Harmony Gold was found to have violated the Employment Equity Act for failing to properly investigate a racist incident in 2020, and was ordered by the Labour Court to pay R100,000 in damages to the employee.
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Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing
20
Harmony Gold directs approximately 77.1% of its global procurement budget to diverse suppliers
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, including R16.3 billion in preferential procurement spend in South Africa
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, R1.746 billion with PNG land-owner and local community companies
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, and R2.4 million with First Nations Kalkadoon-owned businesses in Australia
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. All suppliers are expected to comply with the company's Code of Conduct and ethical standards
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, which are incorporated into contracting conditions and include zero tolerance for non-compliance
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. Harmony reports zero substantiated forced or child labor incidents
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and screens suppliers for modern slavery risks in PNG and Australia
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. The company conducts quarterly compliance reviews and performance audits of procurement and supplier development activities
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. Specific data on fair-trade certification share, multi-tier traceability coverage, median remediation speed for violations, and materials risk index is not provided in the articles.
Honest & Fair Business
20
Harmony Gold reported zero regulatory fines for FY24, FY23, and FY22.
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The company maintained a CDP score of 'A' for water management, indicating top-tier transparency.
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A formal whistleblower policy is in place, featuring a 24/7 anonymous hotline available in multiple countries (South Africa, Papua New Guinea, Australia), managed by an independent third party, and explicitly protecting whistleblowers from reprisals.
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PricewaterhouseCoopers Inc. (PwC) audited the consolidated annual financial statements, implying 100% coverage of the financial entity.
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However, Sustainalytics reported a 'Highest Controversy level' impacting the company's ESG risk rating in the last three years.
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Additionally, 67% of the board members are independent non-executive directors.
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Kind to Animals
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Harmony Gold reported 14,887 hectares of land impacted in FY25
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, while rehabilitating 58 hectares.
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In FY24, 13,992 hectares were disturbed
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, with 172 hectares rehabilitated.
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The company collaborates with the Endangered Wildlife Fund on a Biodiversity Footprint Project
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and conducts assessments for vulnerable species.
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Initiatives include 1,000 hours of fauna-spotting and tracking in FY25
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, clearing 1,062 hectares of invasive species
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, and planting 132,191 trees in FY24.
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However, there is minimal documentation of measurable positive impact on species recovery or habitat restoration metrics. The company aims to remain compliant with host country regulations
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and contributes to national biodiversity policy.
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It is a member of several trade associations
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, but there is no evidence of a public position or active advocacy for higher animal welfare legislation or standards.
No War, No Weapons
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The company requires its suppliers in Papua New Guinea and Australia to be compliant with current sanctions laws, anti-bribery and corruption, and anti-money-laundering laws.
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Suppliers in these regions are also screened for risks related to modern slavery, regulatory non-compliance, and unethical business practices.
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This demonstrates robust compliance controls in place for its supply chain regarding sanctioned regimes.
Planet-Friendly Business
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Harmony Gold reported total Scope 1, 2, and 3 GHG emissions of 5.25 MtCO2e in FY24, a 3.68% reduction from FY23.
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The company's near-term emissions reduction goal was validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) in 2023, committing to a 63% reduction in absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by FY36 from an FY21 base year, aligned with a 1.5°C pathway, with defined interim targets.
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In FY24, 1.59% of operational energy was sourced from renewables.
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The non-hazardous waste recycling rate was 74% in FY24.
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The company reported zero environmental fines in both FY24 and FY23.
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Harmony aims for carbon net-zero by 2045.
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The company has historically reported on climate change through TCFD reports, integrating its recommendations, and is transitioning to ISSB standards.
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Comprehensive climate scenario analyses were reviewed in 2023, considering IPCC RCP8.5, RCP6.0, and RCP2.6 pathways.
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The company's joint venture for solar plants includes skills development training and on-site enterprise development programs for local companies.
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Harmony implemented 70% of its Biodiversity Action Plans and cleared 9,971ha of invasive alien plants since FY23.
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Environmental authorisations and permits were received for the solar Phase 2 project.
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In FY24, 9,174,000m3 of potable water was sourced from high water stress areas.
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The solar project will create employment and procurement opportunities for local host communities, with preference for black-owned, black-women-owned, and black-youth-owned companies.
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Harmony secured a R1.5-billion green loan facility in 2022 to fund solar PV renewable-energy plants.
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Respect for Cultures & Communities
60
Harmony Gold demonstrates strong local employment, with 83% of its workforce in South Africa and 98% in Papua New Guinea recruited from local communities
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. The company provides grievance mechanisms for communities, including 24/7 hotlines for South Africa, Papua New Guinea, and Australia
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, and a formal grievance procedure
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. In Papua New Guinea, 51% of procurement spending is directed to local suppliers
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. The company actively protects cultural sites by conducting cultural heritage investigations
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, avoiding operations in World Heritage sites
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, having cultural heritage protocols in place in Papua New Guinea
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, and planning to establish them in South Africa by the end of 2026
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. Specific cultural heritage and access agreements also exist with the Kalkadoon People in Australia
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and are addressed in the Hidden Valley MoA
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.
Safe & Smart Tech
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Harmony Gold states compliance with South Africa's Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).
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Data subjects have the right to access and update their personal information through a formal PAIA process. However, the company retains personal information for a period of 7 years, or longer, such as 40 years for health records as required by law.
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Zero Waste & Sustainable Products
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Harmony Gold operates the world's largest gold tailings reclamation program, which is central to its business model and positions it as a major player in the circular economy of gold.
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In FY23, 10.5% of its gold production was derived from reclamation activities.
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The company reported a mineral waste diversion rate of 60.57% in its South African operations for FY25, achieved through recycling slimes and waste rock.
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Harmony has implemented multiple waste reduction initiatives, including water recycling, repurposing waste rock as plant grinding media and backfill, and repurposing equipment.
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Over 240 energy efficiency initiatives have also been implemented.
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For hazardous waste, the company focuses on minimization and directs streams, primarily hydrocarbons, to accredited repurposing institutions or suitable landfills, recycling 1,221 tonnes in South Africa and 39 tonnes in Papua New Guinea in FY24.
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The company reported zero environmental fines or penalties for waste disposal in both FY23 and FY24.
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,
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Harmony has a quantitative target to recycle 70% of non-hazardous waste by 2027.
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