Muhammad Taufik, Jakarta – About eight hundred workers of a textile company in East Java went on strike on Monday (25/1) to demand better annual rise on their wage this year, and threathened to continue their strike for the next two days.

A worker who has been working for 19 years at PT Mertex on Jl By Pass connecting Mojokerto and Surabaya, Kusno said this year's rise was "only about 4 percent, while workers demand for a 10 percent (rise)."

Another worker, Kasiono, who has work for 30 year protested the thin gap between his pay rise and that of the newer workers.

Workers argued that the inflation rate moved un-proportionally compared to the wage rise rate, making it hard for the workers to cover their living costs. Workers at PT Mertex were paid between Rp1.8-2 million per month.

Workers said to occupy the production facility for three days and brought the matter to the regional labor office.