2009 Human Trafficking Expected to Increase

VIVAnews - International Labour Organization (ILO) estimated that human trafficking in Indonesia will increase in 2009. According to ILO Director for Indonesia Alan Bouton, the worsening global crisis will affect Indonesians' economic condition.

"We believe there will be a lot of economic pressure on Indonesians," said Bouton in a seminar, Tuesday, Dec 16.

As a result, he said, there will be more desire to seek for jobs overseas. "Many factories will be shut down. More employment opportunities will not be available," said Bouton.

To prevent this from happening, Bouton continued, the ILO provides programs to protect employees' rights, especially migrant workers, such as education program and advocacy for victims. However, he acknowledged that he could not obtain accurate data. "Human trafficking is illegal so it's difficult to get accurate data," said Bouton.

The record shows that Indonesia has the highest rate of human trafficking. According to Bouton, this is due to the country's high population.

Indonesian Minister of Justice and Human Rights, Andi Mattalata, said that human trafficking in Indonesia gains popularity because of the following factors: high profitability, cultural issues, low employment opportunities and the Indonesian geographic condition which hampers the government from watch human trafficking. 

However, Mattalata cautions that the problem will persists if the root of the problem is not resolved. "Poverty and people's indifference are some of the causes," he said. The main point lies with the enforcement of regulations that the government has imposed. "Is it sufficient already? Perhaps there should be several revisions," he said. Bouton added that there must be effective implementation.

Based on data of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) of between March 2005 and October 2008, the number of people being traded is up to 3,222 people. 89 percent of them are women and children. West Kalimantan is on the top of the list, followed by West Java and East Java respectively.

"Most cases occur in poor regions where the desire to get alternative income is quite high," said Lotte Kejser, Chief Technical Adviser for Combatting Forced Labour and Trafficking of Indonesian Migrant Workers.

Translated by: Bonardo Maulana Wahono