Prostitution is a business

Prostitution is a business

In a seminar called "Women in the Working World in
Anticipation of the Global Free Market", held by the Convention
Watch at the University of Indonesia on Dec. 12, 1995,
participant Prof. Tatiomas Ihromi asked Mr. Bomer Pasaribu, Head
of SPSI, whether sex workers can be included in the SPSI. This
was asked because there are so many of them in Batam, where they
are considered as the main attraction of the island. A very
interesting question indeed.

Mrs. Claude Girard, wife of the former French Ambassador in
Indonesia (now in Australia), said to me, "Prostitution is a
dirty business but it is indeed a business. Consequently they can
form a labor organization to protect themselves against
discrimination, extortion, oppression and other bad treatment and
also they have to pay tax."

Fellow readers' comments would be appreciated.

SARASWATI KARNO BARKAH

Jakarta