Jakarta – Thousands of workers at a garment factory in Tangerang went on strike to demand a Rp 200,000 increase in monthly wages.

"Our wages only ended up being raised by Rp 30,000. That's a meaningless change. It might as well have never happened," said Abdul Rohim, a tailor who has worked at the company, PT Starnesia Garment, for two years.

"As a result of that small wage rise, we're being asked to put together 40 clothes in 30 minutes, instead of the usual 28 in 30," he said on Thursday.

The workers need the higher pay raise so that they can receive Rp 1,529,000 (US$166) per month.

Another worker, Nurbaeti, said that thousands would continue striking until they had their demands fulfilled.

Meanwhile, the management, which has had its wages raised by Rp 900,000, forbade journalists from doing any reporting inside the factory, which makes jackets and trousers, kompas.com reported.