Indonesian sex workers arrested in Saudi Arabia<\/p>\n
Ridwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Jacob Nuwa Wea said Saudi
\nArabian authorities had arrested some 100 Indonesian migrant
\nworkers employed as prostitutes in several cities in the kingdom.<\/p>\n
\"We are lobbying Saudi Arabian authorities to release them
\nand, subsequently, shall bring them back home,\" Jacob said after
\nreceiving Indonesian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Basuni at his
\noffice over the weekend.<\/p>\n
The minister explained that some of the sex workers had
\nentered Saudi Arabia on green worker passports, while others had
\ntraveled there disguised as pilgrims.<\/p>\n
\"Some of them left their workplaces and sought Indonesian
\npimps, who hired them out. Other stayed on, after performing a
\npilgrimage, to work as prostitutes,\" said the minister, adding
\nthat they were netted in brothel raids in several cities in the
\nkingdom.<\/p>\n
Many Indonesians working as taxi drivers and traders in Saudi
\nArabia also work as pimps, and hire sex workers to foreigners and
\nlocals in that country.<\/p>\n
Jacob conceded that the shameful story was one of negative
\nexcess in sending workers overseas \"and this a good lesson for us
\nto improve the program in the future.\"<\/p>\n
A number of Indonesian workers have also been jailed in Saudi
\nArabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar for crimes and other
\nwrongdoing.<\/p>\n
Twelve Indonesian workers are on death row in Malaysia for
\ncrimes including murder, robbery and narcotics offenses. The
\ngovernment has hired several Malaysian lawyers to defend them in
\ncourt.<\/p>\n
State Minister of Women's Empowerment Sri Redjeki Soemaryoto
\nsaid recently that the government was trying to bring home around
\n100 Indonesian women employed as sex workers in East Malaysia.<\/p>\n
Jacob said the government was planning to implement strict
\nmeasures when supplying workers overseas, to help minimize abuses
\nagainst workers and prevent them from getting into trouble with
\ntheir employers.<\/p>\n
\"All Indonesians wanting to work overseas will be required to
\nspeak at least the language of the host country where they will
\nbe employed and to pass an aptitude test devised by
\nthe University of Indonesia,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He added that the deployment of workers overseas ought to be
\nbased on job orders from users and be registered with Indonesian
\nembassies or consulates general to ensure the provision of
\nadequate protection.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesian-sex-workers-arrested-in-saudi-arabia-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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