Reports of workers forced into prostitution probed<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Manpower has launched an
\ninvestigation into a report that some female Indonesian workers
\nin Malaysia have been forced into prostitution and pregnancy, and
\nhave then had their babies taken from them and sold.<\/p>\n
Ministry spokesman Hermanto said the government is waiting for
\na full account from the Indonesian embassy in Kuala Lumpur
\nfollowing the report by the Antara news agency on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The report by Antara quoted a local organization called PKAI,
\nwhich specifically looks after the interest of Indonesian
\nchildren, said Malaysian police recently busted a syndicate which
\nruns a prostitution service. It used Indonesian women sent to
\nthem as workers, which were recruited by a company in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The women said the syndicate forced Indonesian women into
\nprostitution and prevented them from using contraceptives so that
\nthey would become pregnant. After delivery, their babies were
\nseized and sold by the syndicate.<\/p>\n
"This is the most evil act. We want this syndicate prosecuted
\nand convicted," Khairuddin Harahap, head of the PKAI, told the
\nAntara news agency.<\/p>\n
Police recently handed over 12 Indonesian women freed from the
\nsyndicate. A 13th woman, who is pregnant, is being treated in
\nhospital. She sustained injuries after jumping from the second
\nfloor of the house where the women were kept. She managed to drag
\nherself out and contacted the local police.<\/p>\n
Khairuddin said all the women came to work in Malaysia using
\nlegal papers and were sent by a supplier agency in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
He said there could be more Indonesian women in Malaysia
\nsubjected to this kind of treatment.<\/p>\n
One of the women said that they had not been forced into
\nprostitution themselves because they had only just arrived. But
\nthree other women, who had arrived earlier, had been through the
\nordeal and fallen pregnant and then immediately after delivery,
\ntheir babies were taken from them.<\/p>\n
The women said a baby is sold for the equivalent of Rp 6.5
\nmillion for a boy and Rp 4.3 million for a girl.<\/p>\n
Khairuddin said the local police have asked four of the women
\nto stay in Malaysia to testify in court against the members of
\nthe syndicate. Five of them have been sent back to Indonesia and
\nthe rest will follow soon.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Ambassador to Malaysia Sudarmadi has expressed
\nconcern at the report and stressed that the embassy is helping to
\nprovide temporary shelter for the women and arrange for their
\nreturn to Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The All Indonesian Workers Association has also issued a
\nstatement deploring the exploitation of the workers and urging
\nthe Malaysian government to resolve the issue thoroughly.<\/p>\n
The association's executive, Djoko Daulat, said the Indonesian
\ncompany which sent the women to Malaysia should also be held
\naccountable. (emb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/reports-of-workers-forced-into-prostitution-probed-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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