P

ermit violations are suspected at the fireworks factory that was gutted by a fire in Kosambi, Tangerang, despite the company having attained the necessary permits to carry out operations.

The company is also suspected to have employed children and teenagers.

The Tangerang administration claimed that PT Panca Buana Cahaya Sukses, which operates the 700-square-meter factory, had attained a permit to manufacture goods in 2016 and was in compliance with all safety regulations.

However, the deadly blasts on Thursday, which started in a production room and raw material chamber, claimed the lives of 47 workers and injured another 46 as they were trapped in the plant compound that had been designed to serve as a warehouse.

Many of the victims were women and children.

Rumsiani, 18, an ex-worker of the factory who visited the site on Friday, said she quit on account of poor working conditions inside the plant. “I quit two weeks ago because I could not stand the strong smell of the material. My eyes would get sore and there was a lack of ventilation,” she said.

Rumsiani said many of her ex-colleagues were teenagers just like her that lived near the factory, which is located in an industrial area surrounded by houses and schools.

“There is no special recruitment process. I was recruited by my aunt, then I started working,” she said.

The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), which is investigating the case, said the factory had been careless as it employed many children and teenagers.

Komnas HAM commissioner on supervision and investigation Siane Indriani said one of the victims had been identified as Siti Fatimah, a 15-year-old worker who was being treated at the Tangerang General Hospital (RSUD Tangerang). “Besides Siti Fatimah, there is also a 13-year-old victim. We could not interview her because she was being treated in the intensive care unit,” Siane said after visiting the factory on Friday.

Based on the commission’s observations, the factory did not have specific procedures in recruiting employees, especially for its packing unit. “The company does not have clear data on its workers.”

Law No. 13/2013 on labor allows a company to employ workers aged between 13 and 15 years old, as long as neither their physical nor mental development is disrupted. As a fireworks company is categorized as dangerous for underage employment, Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Yohana Yembise has condemned the employment of the young workers.

“Working at a fireworks factory really endangers children and could disrupt their mental development,” Yohana said.

Tangerang Police chief Sr. Comr. Harry Kurniawan said seven of the 10 missing victims had been accounted for as of Friday afternoon. They were all found in good condition.

Harry also said the owner of the factory, Indra Liyono, had been interrogated by his team last night, and that the case had been handed over to the Jakarta Police.

Tangerang Regent Ahmed Zaki Iskandar said the factory had been built to operate as a warehouse and that a permit had been attained to manufacture fireworks in 2016.

However, it only began operations two months ago. (yon)