Police in Tangerang sealed a frying pan factory and arrested its owner, who allegedly held his underaged workers in captivity while forcing them to work without pay.

"The workers have been working for four months in the factory. Some of them escaped because they couldn't stand the torture and the owner's behavior. They did not receive the rights they deserved," Tangerang Police Detective Unit chief Comr. Shinto Silitonga told Indonesian news portal Detik.com on Friday.

Some of the laborers' families decided to report the case to the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM). The commission, along with the Tangerang police and the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), raided the factory, located in Lebak Wangi village.

Six workers – some of whom were underage – were found locked in a room. "They were treated inhumanely," Shinto said. "They factory owner gave them no access to health services, and they couldn't communicate with other people."

Shinto remarked that the workers were in very bad condition when the police discovered them. They were suffering from various skin conditions due to the fact that they hadn't changed their clothes in months and were exposed to heavy metals.

The workers were also locked inside a damp room without any sleeping accommodations. "Their cellphones, wallets and clothes were confiscated by the factory owner and his wife. They also never received any pay, even though they were promised Rp 600,000 a month," he said.

The factory owner and his wife have been arrested and will face charges. The police also detained 25 workers for questioning. "The factory did not have an operational permit from the city of Tangerang," Shinto added.

Komnas HAM Commissioner Siti Noor Laila stated that the case was uncovered when two workers – Andi Gunawan, 20, Junaidi, 22 – managed to escape the factory after working there for three months.

She said the workers were forced to work from 6 a.m. until 12 a.m. every day. After coordinating with Tangerang Police, Komnas HAM busted the factory and freed 46 workers.