T

he Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras),in cooperation with the police , revealed analleged  '€œslavery'€practice at a kitchen utensils factory in SepatanTimur, Tangerang,
arresting the owner, identified as Juki Irawan and fivecohorts.
The arrests were made after receiving reports fromtwo runaway workers, Andi and Junaedi. According tothe reports, the workers were forced to work from 6 a.m. until 12 p.m. everyday with only two meals a day andreceived no pay.
The reports also said that the workers were notallowed to go outside, and if they did, the supervisors wouldchase them and accuse them of stealing or using drugs.
The police found 30 workers, mostly hailing fromLampung,Bandung and Cianjur, in a 40 square-meter room with only onebathroom and no windows.
'€œ[The workers] slept in a small space. They werebeaten when they were sick. Their wallets and
cell phones were taken away when they arrived atthe factory,'€ said Syamsul Munir, a Kontras activist.
Syamsul said that Andi and Junaedi had managed toescape and then reported the situation to Kontras, which then coordinatedwith the police.(nai/dic)