RI migrant workers at risk of HIV/AIDS
Andi Hajramuni, The Jakarta Post, Makassar
Migrant workers, far from home and often poorly educated, are at particular risk of becoming infected with HIV/AIDS and spreading the virus, experts and activists said on Saturday.
Speaking at a discussion in Makassar, South Sulawesi, those concerned with the issue said migrant workers were at greater risk because of the abuses they suffered and from a lack of knowledge about the disease.
Cecep Junaidi of the Pelita Ilmu Foundation said that in 2002 alone, at least 69 migrant workers were known to have been infected with the HIV/AIDS virus. This figure was collected from clinics nationwide that issue health certificates to migrant workers.
However, the actual number of infected workers is probably much higher, as many migrant workers go abroad without legal documents, said Cecep.
Taufiek Zulbahary, the head of the health and migration division at non-governmental organization Women's Solidarity, said a lack of knowledge about HIV/AIDS increased the risk for migrant workers.
Many male migrant workers, far from their wives, frequent prostitutes and rarely use condoms. Women migrant workers, who according to estimates comprise some 75 percent of all Indonesian migrant workers, are at risk of falling into or being forced into prostitution, he said.
In addition to falling into prostitution, some women migrant workers have been raped by their employers or others, putting them at risk for HIV/AIDS.
Taufiek said the government must increase protection and education for migrant workers to help them avoid HIV/AIDS.
The government should pass laws and regulations that help protect the workers, while at the same time introducing safe sex campaigns targeted at migrant workers, he said.
Suprihatin, an executive at an organization that promotes the rights of migrant workers, said Indonesia failed to protect its overseas workers.
Citing an example, she said that out of 109 articles in the law on migrant workers, only eight of the articles were concerned with the protection of the workers. Most of the remaining 101 articles were on the business aspects of sending migrant workers abroad.