Tangerang Ormas Demand Severance Pay After All the Factories Move
As factories relocate for lower wages, Tangerang ormas call for compensation, arguing they were part of the informal industrial supply chain.
TANGERANG — Members of several ormas (mass organizations) in Banten province held a press conference outside an abandoned factory this week to demand what they call “fair severance packages” after their long-time extortion targets relocated to Central Java in pursuit of lower wages and fewer disruptions.
“We’ve been professionally intimidating logistics trucks here for over a decade,” said Heri Santoso, regional coordinator of the Brotherhood of United Parking Consultants (BUPC), one of the largest ormas operating in Tangerang’s industrial belt. “We paid our dues. We wore the vests. We even built posko. And now? Nothing. They just left.”
His voice wavered as he pointed to a shuttered Nike supplier factory, now covered in motivational banners from 2013 and padlocked silence. “No notice. No exit meeting. Not even one last truck to ‘escort.’ Is this how professionalism is rewarded in this country?”
Ormas leaders say they are experiencing an unprecedented wave of economic displacement, as companies continue to migrate to wage-friendlier provinces like Central Java and East Java. The shift has left many “street-level logistics consultants” and “informal security advisors” without work.
“People think we’re just some angry guys with armbands. That’s insulting,” said Ujang, a self-identified Ormas Business Development Officer. “We provided value. Who else made sure truck drivers were fully aware of which neighborhoods were ‘unsafe’ without daily reminders?”
“Now those factories have moved to Batang, Brebes, Kendal. We can’t afford to move our operations there. Our truck-leveraging business was hyperlocal,” he added. “We’re just asking for a transition fund. Something fair. Something respectful. Rp10 million per member. Maybe a certificate of appreciation.”
When contacted, a spokesperson from the Ministry of Industry expressed surprise at the ormas’ demands.
“We had no idea there was a support economy around threatening truck drivers,” the spokesperson said. “We certainly didn’t account for it in our industrial relocation models.”
The ministry confirmed that while companies receive incentives for moving operations to Central Java, they do not currently offer exit packages to third-party intimidators.
Meanwhile, local ormas in Tangerang say they are considering a “retraining initiative” to adapt to the post-factory landscape. Pilot programs include mastering QR-code scanning at minimarkets, and becoming citizen journalists on TikTok.
Still, many remain bitter. “We contributed to this ecosystem. We were part of the factory community. We deserve recognition,” said Heri, shaking his head. “If this country can’t take care of its informal strongmen, who’s next? Influencers?”
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