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t was humid and sunny one Sunday afternoon earlier this month when dozens of workers in Kapuk Poglar in North Jakarta enthusiastically took part in a free legal course offered by the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta) and the Port Transportation Workers Association (FBTPI) under a makeshift tent.

“Long live the workers!” they shouted as they punched their fists in the air during the course.

Hundreds of Kapuk Poglar residents work in three factories in the area, which produce rubber, plastic and packaged food. Some of the 40 people who attended the course were members of the workers’ unions of the manufacturers, united under the FBTPI.

The course was meant to raise awareness about worker protection and the right to create a union, as stipulated in the 2000 law on workers’ unions. “Numerous manpower-related problems have violated workers’ rights, such as forced layoffs or transfers, low salaries and no leave,” Kapuk Poglar resident and FBTPI official Salman told The Jakarta Post.

Most have been working for their companies for decades, Salman added, but worker unions have just been established several months ago. Before the FBTPI stepped in two years ago, workers were allegedly being threatened by the companies’ managements over plans to establish unions.

“As of today, five people were laid off and 17 others were transferred without clear reason after becoming members of worker unions,” he said.

One of them was Apen Supendi, who used to work at a plastic manufacturing company for 21 years. Some weeks after he and some of his friends joined a labor union five months ago, the management issued a letter saying they were to be relocated to a branch in Cikarang, Bekasi, West Java. “We were forced to leave our families and the company didn’t cater to our needs and help us when we were transferred. The letter was issued only two days before we were to start working in Cikarang,” he explained.

Apen and his friends decided not to obey the letter and demanded an explanation on the impromptu decision, which led the management to issue other letters dismissing some of them, including Apen.

With support from the FBTPI, Apen and some of his colleagues plan to file a report to the North Jakarta Manpower Agency over their dismissal.

Other than manpower-related problems, Salman also cited that 50 workers in Kapuk Poglar were living in the eviction-prone area. Residents have been involved in an ongoing land dispute with the Jakarta Police since January, following plans by the latter to clear a 15,900 square meter plot land in the area for a police dormitory building. Both residents and the Jakarta Police claim ownership over the land. Residents have remained in the area, refusing to move as they claim to have been living there since the 1980s.

Gallita Nur, a workers’ rights activist from the FBTPI, provided step-by-step instructions that workers should follow if they encountered problem with their company and needed support.

She said the most challenging part is to change the workers’ mindset, as they often thought they were entitled to only a weekly or monthly wage.

“They’re afraid to express their voice for many reasons, mainly because they don’t want to get into trouble with the company’s management, as [their jobs are] the only thing they can do to eke out a living,” she told the Post.

LBH Jakarta strategic campaigner Angga Miga Pramono said it was the second course held by the Institute. It aimed at reaching more people who have limited access to legal aid.

“We have advocated some 1,400 legal cases in 2017, mostly involving clients from middle-income families who know very little about the law. Most of the cases were related to evictions, false arrests, juvenile delinquents and discrimination over freedom of expression,” he told the Post.

“We think we should do more than just wait for people to seek legal help from our office,” he said, adding that LBH Jakarta would regularly hold the program every two weeks on various issues.