Project
Strengthening Labor Enforcement and Compliance to Unlock Resilient and Ethical Nickel Supply Chains (SECURE)
Funder: U.S. Department of Labor
Project Timeline: December 31, 2025 - June 30, 2030
Country: Indonesia
Program Area: Human Rights & Empowerment
The Strengthening Labor Enforcement and Compliance to Unlock Resilient and Ethical Nickel Supply Chains (SECURE) project is a 4.5‑year initiative led by Winrock International and funded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs. The project supports U.S. priorities by strengthening labor protections and enforcement in Indonesia’s nickel sector — an essential source of critical minerals used in American manufacturing, clean energy technologies and electric vehicle supply chains. By addressing labor risks at the source, SECURE helps protect the integrity and reliability of supply chains that directly impact U.S. workers, businesses and consumers.
Through a systems‑level, locally grounded approach, SECURE builds capacity for labor enforcement, enhances transparency through research and stakeholder engagement, and strengthens remediation systems when labor violations are identified. Implemented in partnership with Indonesian organizations — including Transformasi untuk Keadilan Indonesia (TuK Indonesia) — the project focuses on key nickel‑producing regions while engaging national stakeholders to advance ethical sourcing, reinforce fair competition, and support secure, resilient critical mineral supply chains that benefit both Indonesian workers and the U.S.
Through SECURE, Winrock and its partners aim to achieve lasting improvements in labor protections and accountability in Indonesia’s nickel sector by:
- Increasing institutional capacity to detect, prevent and address forced labor and other labor violations;
- Strengthening enforcement of labor laws and occupational safety standards in targeted provinces;
- Improving transparency and data availability related to labor conditions in nickel supply chains; and
- Supporting safer, more ethical supply chains that benefit workers, communities and responsible businesses.