kilometres scattered across some 2,000 islands. The better-known islands include: Batam, the province's economic motor; Bintan … strategically located near the Straits of Malacca. Leveraging on its proximity to Singapore, the Riau Islands-and particularly Batam …

Over the past two decades, trade union activity in Batam has been heavily influenced by regional demographics …-authorized union was fragmented, giving rise to a number of new enterprise unions. Batam's young and diverse immigrant population, with …-level unions: FSPMI, KSPSI and the KSBSI. By the mid-2000s, these unions were also active in Batam. Unsettled ethnic relations …

Despite its good infrastructure and proximity to Singapore, Batam's economic performance has taken a turn for the worse …. First, Indonesia's decentralization reforms have made doing business in Batam much more complicated than it used to be … -- each with veto power. Second, Batam's economic transformation over the past quarter-century has attracted large numbers of …

Despite its good infrastructure and proximity to Singapore, Batam's economic performance has taken a turn for the worse …. First, Indonesia's decentralization reforms have made doing business in Batam much more complicated than it used to be … each with veto power. Second, Batam's economic transformation over the past quarter-century has attracted large numbers of …