Lombok govt asked to protect workers

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