Jakarta – Thousands of workers across Indonesians went on strike demanding wage increase after hikes in fuel, electricity and staple food prices, reports said on Thursday. About 4,000 workrs staged a rally in front of two ceramics factories in the greater Jakarta area town of Tangerang, demanding higher improved benefits and more transparent hiring policies.

Meanwhile 1,500 workers at wood processing manufacturer in Kerawang, West Java staged a pay strike Wednesday, the Pikirin Rakyat daily reported. "We know for sure the management kept making huge profits during the economic crisis because our products are aimed for exports," one worker was quoted as saying. "Meanwhile oue wages stay the same whereas our daily expenses have skyrocketed".

The strikes came on the heels of massive price hikes in fuel, electricity and transportation costs after the government announced the removal of subsidies in keeping with an Inernational Monetary Fund endorsed economic reform programme. Inflation is already running at an annual rate of close to 30 percent, with prices jumping 4.7 percent in April from a month earlier. Some fuel prices rose 71 percent.