On 15 October 2025, the Legal Aid Institute (LBH) Makassar released an open letter, accusing PT Huadi Nickel Alloy Indonesia of three major labor and human rights violations, including:

• Alleged forced labour practices: Workers were reportedly compelled to work excessively long hours, with 12-hour daily shifts and up to 240–372 hours per month, exceeding legal limits. These hours were imposed without adequate rest or proper overtime pay, and workers who refused faced threats and intimidation.
• Violation of minimum wage regulations: A basic wage of only IDR 3,500,000, which is below the 2025 South Sulawesi Provincial Minimum Wage of IDR 3,657,527.37. The shortfall reportedly affected hundreds of workers and constituted a criminal breach of Indonesia’s labour law by failing to meet mandatory wage and compensation standards.
• Abuse of the legal system and denial of religious and safety rights: The company reportedly ignored rectifying orders from the Labour Inspectorate, instead initiating court proceedings to justify its unlawful practices. It forced employees to work during Friday prayers, depriving them of their right to religious observance, and exposed them to dangerous working conditions, such as requiring furnace cleaning while the equipment was still hot, thereby violating workers’ safety and fundamental human rights.

The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre reached out to Huadi International Group Co., Ltd. to respond on the allegations. The company did not respond.