About 2.8 million factory workers in Indonesia went on strike on Wednesday to demand better pay and benefits and to protest against outsourcing.
A statement issued by several labour unions said a total of 80 industrial estates in 24 cities were affected.
The ABC reports the biggest demonstration took place in the capital, Jakarta, where more than 700 companies were closed.
The Kyodo news agency reports that police deployed 11,000 officers and 4000 military personnel to monitor protests in the city.
In January a court ruled that hiring contract workers without benefits was unconstitutional. A government spokesman said on Wednesday that the labour law was still being revised.
The BBC says the standard minimum wage in Jakarta is about $US170 per month.
