According to a report by Women’s Solidarity for Human Rights, female migrant workers were abused physically and emotionally, targeted as criminals, subjected to human trafficking and murdered throughout the year.

The most reports the organization received in 2016 were related to unpaid wages (19 percent), followed by human trafficking (17 percent).

Female migrant workers, who usually work as domestic helpers, are vulnerable to exploitation and violence as the government has not acknowledged domestic work as a job, the organization says.

“Domestic helpers are not considered as workers. Therefore, their rights as workers continue to be violated and it’s difficult for them to obtain justice,” Women’s Solidarity for Human Rights program coordinator Nisaa Yura said at the launch of the report on Thursday.

She said the government’s avoidance of the problem was reflected in its 2017 zero domestic workers roadmap, which contains plans to stop sending domestic helpers to other countries beginning in 2017, as well as the government’s decision in 2015 to stop sending domestic workers to Middle Eastern countries.

“The decision makes it even more difficult for women who are already trapped in poverty to find livelihoods,” Nisaa said.

“Instead of protecting women, the government has produced policy that makes female migrant workers more vulnerable to human trafficking,” Nisaa added. (dmr)

(Read also: Govt, House set to deliberate bill to improve migrant worker protection)

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