Indonesian govt. investigating child labour in fireworks factory

Indonesian authorities on Friday opened investigations into child labour offenses after reports that children were among workers in a fireworks factory where a fire killed 47 people, an official said Friday.

At least another 46 people were also seriously injured in an explosion that sparked a huge fire at the factory in Tangerang district on Thursday.

“We are checking reports that children aged between 15 and 16 are among the injured,” said Su santo, the chairman of the Indonesian Commission on Child Protection.

“If it is true, the company has broken the law, especially because the work was dangerous,” he said.

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Also, the director of the national police hospital, Agus Didi Mintadi, said relatives began identifying dead victims, most of whose bodies were charred beyond recognition.

“The identification process will take some time because of the condition of the corpses,” he said, adding that DNA samples would be required for bodies that could not be identified by fingerprints.

Tangerang police chief Harry Kurniawan said that police were questioning the owner of the factory, Indra Liyono, and several witnesses.