The issue of sexual harassment in state-owned enterprises (SOEs) has been thrust to the spotlight in Indonesia this week following explosive allegations of Garuda Indonesia air hostesses being used for sex and harassed by airline executives, prompting possible stern action against culprits by the government.
SOEs Minister Erick Thohir, who has been leading the charge in cleansing Garuda of its problematic executives amid the scandals, said he wants the country's SOEs to give better protections to female employees by enforcing a no-tolerance policy for sexual harassment.
"We will ensure that sexual harassment against women in SOEs is completely forbidden. Please don't make women victims of these undesirable acts," Erick said in Jakarta yesterday, as quoted by CNN Indonesia.
"It is about time that women receive clear protections, especially from unsavory leaders."
Erick said that there are currently no laws in place that would automatically terminate those found committing sexual harassment in SOEs, so he wants the enterprises to enforce strict codes of ethics to prevent sexual harassment and punish culprits accordingly.
Previously, a whistleblower on Twitter, who goes by the handle @digeeembok, revealed the alleged existence of a systematic prostitution scheme within Garuda, in which young air hostesses were forced to serve airline executives if they didn't want to lose their incentives and bonuses.
A former Garuda air hostess, as well as a flight attendant union, confirmed @digeeembok's allegations and revealed that the practice was especially rife under the leadership of president director Ari Askhara, who assumed office in Sept. 2018.
Ari was dismissed from his post earlier this month after he was found to be implicated in a huge scandal involving the smuggling of luxury goods using a Garuda jet. Four other airline executives with links to the scandal have also been suspended.
One airline executive, who was accused by @digeeembok to be the "provider" of air hostesses to fellow Garuda bosses, has reported the whistleblower to the police for defamation. Police say they have launched an investigation into the matter, but have yet to figure out the identity behind the Twitter account.