Batam – More than 1,000 workers staged a protest on Thursday at Batam mayor's office in Riau Islands province, against contract-based employment, which they said did not provide them with job security.

Most protesters were workers for electronic firms in Batam, grouped under the Federation of Indonesian Metal Worker Unions (FSPMI). They said contract workers were paid less than the Batam minimum wage of Rp 1,045,000 per month.

"Once their two-year contract expires, companies refuse to extend them even if their performance is good. Instead, companies recruit new workers to avoid employing permanent staff, which would cost them more. This should not be allowed," Batam FSPMI leader Nurhalim said.