Workers complain on prayers ban

TANGERANG: Workers of PT Mega Sembada Indonesia garment factory in Jatiuwung subdistrict, Tangerang municipality, are up in arms about the company's policy that prohibits them from performing Friday prayers.

"The factory management wants to maintain its production target, apparently by ignoring the workers' right to pray," said Agus Puji Raharjo, the chairman of the Banten Prosperous Workers Brotherhood, on Monday.

The brotherhood will discuss the matter with the Tangerang branch of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI).

According to Agus, the factory prohibited the factory machine operators from leaving their workplace, regardless of the reason.

No one from the factory management was available for comment. The security guards said that the officials had gone home.

The MUI Tangerang branch secretary Rasna Dahlan said the policy went against government regulations. He added that companies are required to provide a place of worship for their workers within their respective compounds. -- JP