Jakarta – Hundreds of workers at an underwear factory in Depok who have been on strike since last Tuesday, are receiving plenty of support from locals in the area.

The striking workers have been living at the compound of the factory owned by PT Arista Latinindo Industrial since June 15, demanding that nine people recently sacked by the company be rehired.

Although they're not earning any money now, the striking workers are receiving food and money from passing motorists and sympathetic traders.

The workers say their nine former colleagues were sacked because of their strong involvement in an internal labor union, which always fought to uphold the rights of the staff. Locals supplying the strikers with food say they're impressed by the stand taken by them.

The company, which produces a range of stockings, underpants, bras, panties and gloves, is suffering from big losses, because more and more of its 1,500 staff are joining the strike.

Initially, about 400 were protesting, but that number had yesterday climbed to 600. Many of the factory's machines have been idle since Tuesday, causing considerable concern to the owners.

The striking workers yesterday met with the company's board of directors and failed to reach an agreement. The directors urged the staff to halt the strike, but they replied they would only do so if the nine sacked workers are re-instated.

The strikers said the nine had never done anything wrong, except upsetting management by defending laborers' rights. The board of directors refused to rehire the nine, so the workers said they will continue the strike until the situation changes.