About seven hundred workers from Citra Raphael Indonesia factory in Tangerang marched seven Kms to the local legislative assembly building, bringing commercial activity in the area to a halt. Shops along the route closed their shutters, fearing that riots might occur. The factory produces jeans.

The workers were demanding payment of three months back pay and the payment of allowances for workers who have been fired.

The workers had been told that the company was bankrupt, that the business was being bought up and that during the transition, workers would be laid off.

After the change of ownership, only four hundred workers were taken back, while the other three hundred were fired with severance pay fixed by the company.

Tempers flared among the workers when they heard that four hundred other workers had been taken on to replace those fired. Workers started throwing rocks at factory buildings after the management ignored their demands, and they decided to take their grievance to the local assembly.

Problems arose when members of the assembly asked the workers to appoint representatives. Another problem was that no one from the side of management was present to join in the talks.

The dispute has not yet been solved.