Jakarta – Since yesterday night, around 200 PT Mayora Indah women workers have been staying at the Jakarta Indonesian Legal Aid Offices (LBH) because they are afraid of intimidation and other acts of terror following a clash at the company last week.

A staff member from the labour division of Jakarta LBH, Yuana Berliyanty, explained that since the clash occurred, hundreds of women workers have been gripped by fear because they were threatened by company "hired thugs" and workers who did not support them over a strike action on July 15-16.

"Because of this, since yesterday night they have slept over at the Jakarta LBH offices because they feel threatened", Yuana said yesterday.

Workers who were against the action and strike attacked their 600 friends who were demanding wage increases and workers rights, said Yuana. A physical clash could not be avoided when the "hired-thugs" and pro-company workers tried to prevent the workers' action.

According to Yuana, who quoted one of the women workers, the physical confrontation did not get out of hand because of the timely intervention of the local police and Tangerang military. "But the women workers were threatened with the sack and violence if they continued with the strike", said Romlah, the coordinator of the women workers who requested legal protection from Jakarta LBH. This was despite the fact that the action was peaceful and workers only shouted demands which called for improvements in working conditions.

Yuana explained that since yesterday, LBH Jakarta had not been able to hold talks with the Mayora Indah management because they did not yet have an agreement to mediate. The women workers and those who held the strike felt concerned if the mediation was held at the factory or the company head offices. "They are still traumatized by the physical confrontation".

[Translated by James Balowski]