Jakarta – Over 70,000 workers have been laid off in Indonesia since the government hiked fuel prices on Oct. 1, local media reported on Tuesday.

"The workers are from Bandung, the capital of West Java province and Surakarta in Central Java province. I expect the number to reach 100,000 by the end of this year," Chairman of the Textile Association Benny Sutrisno was quoted by the Jakarta Post as saying.

"In total, some 500,000 will have to be laid off because fuel comprises 30 percent of production cost, not to mention other cost," he added.

The chairman said that some 300,00 workers were from medium and large-size industries, while the remaining 200,000 workers were from small-size industries.

"Laying of workers is a tough decision to make because of the strong relation with workers and the high severance pay," he said.