The Social Services Agency in Bali says they are planning to facilitate skills training for commercial sex workers on the island as it seeks to provide alternatives and help pull these sex workers out of the trade.
It seems like the plan is still at its early stages, though. As head of the Bali Social Services Agency, I Dewa Gede Mahendra, pointed out, the agency is still developing the plan and is currently in talks with some of these sex workers to understand their plight, Republika reported.
“Many of these sex workers are forced into the sex trade because of varying circumstances. Economic hardship is one factor. Many of them actually wants to find a different job and stop working as a sex worker,” Mahendra said, as quoted by Republika.
He added that the sex workers have shown interest in getting training to work in spas, hair salons, tailoring and embroidery. For the time being, the skills training is set to take place beginning next year.
“We have to make sure that the training will cater to what they seek to learn, so that they will truly leave behind their jobs as sex workers,” Mahendra said.
Prostitution is not actually technically illegal in Indonesia, although those who facilitate it such as pimps and brothels are criminally liable.
Read more news and updates from Bali here.
