On the Conclusions of the Closed-Door Tripartite Roundtable Strengthening the Protection of Workers’ Human Rights in the Critical Minerals Industry

The closed-door tripartite roundtable convened by the Djokosoetono Research Center, Faculty of Law, Universitas Indonesia, in collaboration with CNV Internationaal, brought together representatives of government institutions, companies, and trade unions to engage in an open and constructive dialogue on the protection of workers’ human rights in Indonesia’s critical minerals industry.

The discussion highlighted a shared recognition that the industry plays a strategic role in national economic development, while simultaneously presenting complex and high-risk human rights challenges. Participants broadly agreed that occupational safety and health (K3), working conditions and wages, and freedom of association remain the most pressing labor-related risks, particularly in high-risk industrial zones such as mining and smelting areas and thus require immediate and coordinated actions. Ongoing occupational safety risks, long working hours, wage sustainability challenges, and uneven protection for subcontracted workers were identified as critical concerns requiring urgent attention.

The dialogue also underscored structural challenges that continue to hinder adequate protection, including limited labor inspection capacity, fragmented regulatory frameworks, overlapping mandates among institutions, weak local-level enforcement, and insufficient social dialogue mechanisms. Participants noted the lack of precise coordination between central and regional authorities often creates accountability gaps, while workers and affected communities struggle to access remedies, information, and justice.

Despite differing perspectives, the roundtable revealed important areas of convergence. There was broad agreement that preventive approaches, grounded in human rights due diligence, are essential to reducing risks before harm occurs. Strengthening institutional capacity, both within government oversight bodies and among companies and trade unions, was identified as a necessary foundation for sustainable improvement. Participants also emphasized the importance of meaningful, continuous social dialogue among management, workers, and public authorities as a key mechanism to address grievances, build trust, and prevent the escalation of conflicts.

As a way forward, the roundtable concluded with several shared action items. These include clarifying and harmonizing regulatory frameworks, strengthening regional-level labor inspection and monitoring mechanisms, improving access to grievance and remediation pathways, and intensifying tripartite dialogue in industrial zones. Participants emphasized that cross-stakeholder collaboration is essential to translate these commitments into tangible improvement in worker’s rights protection and workplace safety.

This roundtable marked an essential initial step in fostering a safe and trusted space for dialogue among key stakeholders. The insights generated will inform further research, policy engagement, and follow-up initiatives to strengthen the protection of human rights in Indonesia’s critical minerals industry.