In December 2013, workers at PT Indofood sukses makmur, one of the largest food packaging companies in Indonesia, sought a wage increase for 2014 in line with the minimum wage increase of USD 39. However, management refused to consider the wage increase requested, instead raising wages by just USD 8. Further, the company decided to lay-off 450 labour hire workers who sought permanent employment with the company in accordance with the Indonesian Labour Law No. 13/2003.
To protest the company’s actions, workers decided to withhold their labour on 11 March 2014. The strikes and related protests were lawful and peaceful.
In response to the strike and protest, the company hired special police, the Brimob – Brigade Mobile – usually used in counter-terrorism raids and riots. In this case, however, the Brimob attacked unarmed Indofood workers with weapons and water cannons.
While confrontations and intimidation tactics had been deployed through June 2014, the level of police brutality against the workers was dramatically increased on 2 July 2014. Following provocation by the police squad, violent clashes occurred between the police and workers. The police fired tear gas into the crowds and hit, kicked and pelted workers with concrete blocks and stones. Fifty workers were injured, twenty seriously and three required extended hospitalisation. The police also damaged and stole parts of the workers’ motorbikes, and arrested six workers as a result of the clashes.
In a related solidarity strike at Bogasari Company on 22 November 2014, the police attacked a group of more than 100 striking workers with iron rods, leaving 18 workers injured and resulting in extensive damage to worker and trade union property.