Jakarta – Five workers from PT Maspion Unit I in Gedangan area, Sidoarjo regency, East Java and a reporter who was covering the workers demonstration, were injured on Wednesday after a clash broke out between workers and the police, a report said.

Antara identified the five workers as Sukarmin (32), Arif (34), Nadzar (33), Ikhsan (29) and Nur Salim (32). All suffered from bruises.

The other victim was a reporter from Kompas daily, Wisnu Dewabrata, who was hit by the police while taking pictures during the demonstration. The police also seized his film.

The clash broke out when thousands of PT Maspion Unit I workers, who had launched a strike on Tuesday to protest the implementation of five days work, planned to continue their actions with a rally. The group were heading for PT Maspion Unit II in Buduran area with the aim of inviting their fellow workers to join the protest.

However, on their way to the factory, they were intercepted by dozens of police officers, who beat them up, injuring the six and forcing the remaining workers to disperse.

The laborers feared that the plan to implement the five-day week would affect their earnings. They said that their salary had been reduced when four months ago, the company reduced the permissible overtime from 4.5 hours a day to 1.5 hours.