Camelia Pasandaran – The number of Indonesian migrant workers infected with HIV/AIDS is increasing as a result of human trafficking and a lack of information provided by labor agencies in the country, an observer said on Sunday.

Retno Dewi, chairwoman of the Indonesian Workers Association (ATKI), said more cases of HIV/AIDS were being found among returning migrants, particularly those who had worked in bars.

"Those who work in the entertainment industry, such as at clubs and bars, are often forced to provide sexual services for their clients," she told the Jakarta Globe on Sunday.

Although no exact numbers have been collected by the association, Justina Evi Tyaswati, coordinator of the Voluntary Counseling and Testing clinic at Soebandi Hospital in Jember, East Java, said 30 percent of the 277 HIV/AIDS patients being treated at the hospital were former migrant workers who had been infected while abroad.

Retno said many migrant workers were forced into prostitution because that was the only way they could survive overseas with limited knowledge and skills.

"Some agencies send migrant workers without even bothering to equip them with the skills they need to obtain proper work," she said.

According to Retno, Indonesian migrant workers turning to prostitution is most prevalent in Macau, with whom Indonesia does not have a memorandum of understanding on migrant labor, Japan and South Korea, though she did not provide figures. Retno also said Indonesian migrant workers employed on farms in Malaysia tended to change sexual partners frequently.

"They're lonely on the farms, so they crave close relationships," she said. "Most of them cannot stand being alone, but they neglect to have 'safe' relationships."

Retno said the attitude of the government and migrant workers themselves was the main obstacle to controlling infection rates.

"We regard [sex outside of marriage] as taboo here," she said. "With that in mind, agencies often only advise workers to avoid having sex, but don't give them detailed information. They should inform them about how to have 'safe' sexual relations and offer more detailed information on how to avoid sexually transmitted diseases."

She added that disease was not the only threat faced by migrant workers who engaged in prostitution. "They also need to be wary of dangerous situations such as rape or being held against their will," she said.