The management of mining and stripping construction teams in metal and non-metal production mines is set to face strict new requirements. According to the Guidelines on Standardizing Mining and Stripping Construction Teams in Metal and Non-Metal Production Mines (Mine Safety [2026] No. 78) issued by the National Mine Safety Administration on June 25, non-coal mines must complete in-house formation or full entrustment of such teams within specified deadlines: May 1, 2027 for underground mines and May 1, 2028 for open-pit mines.
The guidelines define four forms of in-house teams: directly recruiting construction personnel, wholly absorbing personnel from existing contractors, establishing a mine-controlled joint venture company with a contractor, and utilizing a specialized team under the same parent company. All forms require mines to sign labor contracts directly with employees, and the use of dispatched labor underground is strictly prohibited.
For mines opting for full entrustment, strict conditions apply: the entrusted party must be a legal entity not listed as seriously untrustworthy in safety, and in principle should be a large non-coal mining enterprise or a company holding Grade A or higher general contracting qualification for mining projects. Mines with severe hazards must match the entrusted party with relevant technical and management experience. Full entrustment must cover all production systems and supporting facility operations as a single independent system, with no subcontracting allowed.
Responsibility is divided: the entrusting party bears primary safety responsibility and ensures investment, while the entrusted party takes overall responsibility for on-site safety and must establish a sound management structure. Mines are required to promptly decide on their approach, set timelines, and manage transitional risks such as personnel shortages and team integration.
Regulatory authorities at all levels will survey existing outsourcing practices and combine enforcement with guidance. Mines that miss the deadlines will be ordered to suspend production for rectification. Provincial bureaus of the National Mine Safety Administration will prioritize this in their oversight and push for local accountability.