Labor Department awards $22M to four groups to address worker exploitation in critical mineral supply chains

The U.S. Department of Labor awarded $22 million in four cooperative agreements to combat labor exploitation and secure critical mineral supply chains in Indonesia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Grants include $7M to Winrock International and $3M to the Center for Advanced Defense Studies for Indonesia’s nickel supply chain, and $7M to Pact and $5M to World Vision for cobalt, copper, tantalum, tin, and tungsten supply chains in the DRC. Administered by the Bureau of International Labor Affairs, the projects aim to protect U.S. industries, reduce reliance on suppliers that use abusive labor practices, and align with a presidential executive order on increasing American mineral production.