Komnas HAM urges nickel industry to strengthen social-economic responsibility

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) is urging nickel industry actors to strengthen their social responsibilities to ensure that economic benefits are felt more evenly in the areas surrounding industrial zones in Morowali and North Morowali, Central Sulawesi. Komnas HAM Commissioner for Research and Studies Uli Parulian Sihombing stated that the presence of the nickel industry has indeed boosted economic activity, but it has not yet fully impacted local communities in an equitable manner. “They receive the impacts from these industrial activities, even though the economic benefits felt are not yet evenly distributed,” he said in Jakarta on Thursday. He noted that in the context of regional development, industrial activities cannot simply be halted, but must be regulated to balance social and environmental protection. “There are indeed complaints related to the industrial world, including the mining industry. In the context of development and regional growth, such activities cannot simply be prohibited,” he said. Therefore, strengthening community development programmes is considered crucial, including through vocational education such as polytechnics, so that local workers have greater competence and access to the industrial sector. In addition, companies are encouraged to implement due diligence, have internal complaint mechanisms, and carry out targeted and sustainable social responsibility programmes, said Uli. Komnas HAM also emphasises the importance of fulfilling workers’ rights, applying occupational safety and health standards (K3), and inclusivity for vulnerable groups such as women, children, and people with disabilities. On the other hand, multi-stakeholder collaboration between government, businesses, and civil society is deemed important to ensure that communities are not only objects but also subjects in development. These efforts are expected to maintain a balance between nickel industry economic growth and sustainable human rights protection.