The Real Cost of Nickel 

A new study by the Indonesian labor union Federation of Mining and Energy (FPE), partner union of CNV Internationaal, exposes alarming risks at Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP) in Sulawesi, where safety is often overlooked in favor of productivity. The findings highlight the urgent need for mandatory standards on sustainable and responsible business practices—both within companies’ operations and throughout their global value chains.

Supervisors at IMIP frequently use the phrase “Pakai-pakai dulu!”—meaning “Just work on it!”—when urging workers to continue using faulty equipment or ignoring safety risks. This disregard for worker protection contributes to high rates of workplace accidents, with the following key causes identified by FPE:

• Human error – often due to extreme fatigue from overwork.
• Environmental hazards – exposure to raw materials and unsafe terrain.
• Lack of proper PPE – workers are left unprotected from serious risks.
• Faulty equipment – workers are forced to use broken machinery under the dismissive phrase “Pakai-pakai saja dulu” (“Just use it for now”).
• Excessive working hours – workers clock an average of 56 hours per week (225 hours per month!), far exceeding labor standards and increasing accident risks.

Women in the nickel industry face specific additional challenges in an already hazardous environment:

• ️Poor sanitation and hygiene facilities, making basic needs difficult to access.
• Heavy workloads – 52-hour workweeks combined with domestic responsibilities lead to exhaustion.
• ️ Workplace tensions – discrimination and a lack of representation in a male-dominated sector.

These findings reveal major gaps in occupational health and safety (OHS) enforcement at IMIP Industrial zone, worsened by weak supervision and poor labor relations. 

Workers—both men and women—deserve safe conditions, fair hours, and a voice in workplace policies.

At CNV Internationaal, we stand with trade unions fighting for stronger safety regulations, better labor conditions, and meaningful social dialogue. Nickel production should not come at the expense of workers’ health and lives.