Workers complain on prayers ban

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