East Java govt pays prostitutes for fresh start

East Java administration says it will offer severance pay of up to Rp 3 million (US$340) to sex workers who plan to return to their home villages.

“A severance pay of between Rp 2.5 million and Rp 3 million has been prepared. It can be used to start a business…,” East Java Governor Soekarwo said Thursday as quoted by kompas.com.

Soekarwo added that the administration was working with the East Java branch of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) to eliminate prostitution.

“The objective behind this is that the sex workers stop and return to their village by their own initiative. The MUI and [religious leaders] have taken the religious and social approach. After that, we will provide financial help,” he said.

He added that prostitution could not be abolished without the sex workers’ own awareness and willingness to stop.

“We can’t just ban them, chase them, tie their feet and throw them away. They are humans,” he said.

According to Soekarwo, the severance pay method had been proven. In Bangunsari, for example, the number of sex workers had been reduced dramatically from 1,500 to 200 since the same policy was implemented.