"The pimps would leave their jobs if the local government bought their houses."Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Industry Minister Muhammad S Hidayat is good at speaking not only on industrial and economic matters, but also on the handling of commercial sex workers (PSK).
"I appreciate Banyuwangi District Head Abdullah Azwar Anas`s efforts to handle the commercial sex workers in the district," Hidayat said in Banyuwangi, while inaugurating the construction of PT Bosowa Banyuwangi`s cement factory on Monday.
Anas had said earlier that there were 640 commercial sex workers in Banyuwangi district, East Java, in the past but their number had reduced to 231.
He added that the East Java Governor Soekarwo sought the closure of red light areas in Banyuwangi, but the district government refused to do so and tried to find an alternative.
Anas said the district government then gave Rp3 million to all commercial sex workers to undergo skill training and change their profession.
Although the number of prostitutes has declined, some 242 pimps have maintained their jobs.
"The pimps would leave their jobs if the local government bought their houses," the Banyuwangi district head stated. (Uu.O001/INE/KR-BSR/F001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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