Lombok govt asked to protect workers

MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: The local chapter of the Women's Solidarity group called on the West Nusa Tenggara authorities and legislature to take tough measures against the widespread trade in women in the province.

"We appeal to the provincial government and legislature to give serious attention to the rampant trade of women migrants in the province," Yane Rachma Bhirawati said in a meeting with legislators here on Monday.

She said PT YAP, a labor supply company in the province, has sent 176 women workers this year to many companies in Batam and Malaysia at a daily wage of Rp 3,000.

"Before being supplied, the workers were pooled in a house in Medan Selayang, North Sumatra, under inhumane conditions while waiting for their visas from Malaysia. This is clearly labor exploitation.

"But, so far, the government has yet to take action against the labor supply company," she said.

She said the government should also take action against many other labor supply companies that deployed thousands of women from the province to nightspots and entertainment centers in Tanjungpinang and Batam in Riau. --Antara