The Governor of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Viktor Laiskodat, brought up the issue of human trafficking in the province this week, while highlighting poverty as one of its primary drivers.
“When we talk about human trafficking, there is a lot of causes. One of the factors is the problem of poverty,” Viktor said.
He explained that both central and provincial governments have made efforts to address this issue, such as aid and direct cash transfers to citizens in need. According to data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), the poverty rate in NTT is close to 21 percent, making it the fifth poorest province across Indonesia.
However, activists have previously pointed out that resolving the issue would require more long-term solutions, such as providing employment opportunities.
Many victims from NTT have been lured by human traffickers with promises of jobs outside of the province. Desperate due to their financial circumstances, many decide to take the risk of working abroad, only to fall into traps laid out by illegal employment agencies.
