Around 10,000 workers from the National Workers Union in Bandung regency staged a protest Thursday to reject the revision of a manpower law outside the regental administration office.

In their protest, the workers said the revised articles, including those on wages and severance pay, were advantageous to business interests and not to workers.

The demonstration caused heavy congestion around the office since many of the workers marched to the area.

"We want the Bandung Regency Council to deliver our demands to the central government on the revision of Law No. 13/2003 on manpower. If the central government ignores our demands, we will go on strike on May 1 and hold a protest at the House of Representatives," said Ristadi, the union's chairman in Bandung regency.

The revision reportedly includes a chapter which stipulates that a dismissed worker is only entitled to a severance pay of six months instead of nine months under the current law. Other articles were said to relieve companies of the obligation to provide a pension plan and allow companies to set the minimum wage.

"These articles allow companies to pay workers much less than what the companies are capable of paying and favor the employers," Ristadi said.

Similar protests also took place in Cimahi city where around 5,000 workers raised similar demands.