The center for advanced defense studies (?C4ADS?) strengthening labor governance and responsible supply chains in indonesia?S nickel industry purpose: this project will protect american workers and…

The Department of Labor Bureau of International Labor Affairs awarded a $9 million cooperative agreement to the Center for Advanced Defense Studies, Inc. (C4ADS) on December 31, 2025, under the International Labor Programs funding stream (CFDA 17.401). The award funds a four-year project through June 30, 2030, to strengthen labor governance and responsible supply chains in Indonesia's nickel industry by documenting forced labor incidents, mapping ownership networks, and training enforcement bodies and workers.

C4ADS will document incidents of forced labor and trace them to company owners, intermediaries, and global buyers, producing enforcement-ready dossiers and evidentiary packages for submission to U.S., Indonesian, and international enforcement bodies. The organization will map ownership networks and enabler systems across the nickel industry, archiving findings in a secure database and producing risk reports for downstream companies. C4ADS will conduct policy and legal gap analyses against U.S. import requirements and international labor standards, hosting stakeholder workshops to generate reform recommendations. The project will also train workers, unions, government investigative bodies, and civil society organizations to identify, report, and remediate forced labor.

Performance encompasses Indonesia nationwide, with focused activities in the Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park (Central Sulawesi), Weda Bay (North Maluku), and the Southeast Sulawesi Nickel Corridor. Target populations include miners, migrant workers, refinery employees (including Chinese workers in industrial parks), their unions, Indonesian government enforcement bodies, and civil society watchdogs.

Activities

The project will strengthen indonesia?S legal and policy frameworks (focus area 1) and improve systems for monitoring, identification, enforcement, and remediation (focus area 2) through the following activities: ? Document incidents of forced labor and connect them to company owners, intermediaries, and global buyers through enforcement-ready dossiers and evidentiary packages submitted to U.S., indonesian, and international enforcement bodies. ? Map ownership networks and enabler systems across the nickel industry, archiving findings in a secure database and producing risk reports for downstream companies. ? Conduct policy and legal GAP analyses against U.S. Import requirements and international labor standards and host stakeholder workshops to generate reform recommendations. ? Train workers, unions, government investigative bodies, and civil society organizations to identify, report, and litigate forced labor cases, while establishing a worker-union-led monitoring network. ? Publish a comprehensive investigative supply chain report and deliver tailored briefings to U.S. And international standard-setting organizations.

Expected outcomes

Outcomes include a robust evidence base linking forced labor incidents to specific corporate actors; stronger labor monitoring systems sustained by unions, csos, and local enforcement agencies; clear pathways for litigation and remediation that connect evidence to action for affected workers; and policy recommendations and pressure that drive indonesian authorities to close labor governance gaps. Ultimately, the project will reduce forced labor in indonesia?S nickel industry and ensure that U.S. Firms are not undercut by abusive practices.

Intended beneficiaries

Primary beneficiaries are indonesian miners, refinery workers, and migrant workers who face the highest risks of forced labor. Institutional beneficiaries include unions, labor inspectorates, legal advocates, and civil society organizations. Downstream, U.S. Businesses and workers will benefit directly from a more level playing field, free from the market distortions caused by forced labor.

Subrecipient activities

C4ADS will serve as the prime awardee, leading efforts on ownership and supply chain mapping, risk analysis, and engagement with U.S. Stakeholders. China labor watch will act as a subrecipient, focusing on worker engagement, monitoring, and training in indonesia. Together, this partnership links ground-level evidence with corporate actors and investors, ensuring accountability and delivering tangible benefits for both workers and U.S. Businesses.