Jakarta – An NGO called upon the government to resolve human rights abuses after Erwiana Sulistyaningsih, an Indonesian domestic worker in Hong Kong, was allegedly tortured by her employer Law Wan Tung, 44.

The Jakarta-based NGO Women's Solidarity for Human Rights (Solidaritas Perempuan) said the government must provide comprehensive protection to migrant workers and their families.

Solidaritas Perempuan's (SP) national executive body chairperson Wahidah Rustam said justice was still far from Erwiana. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, she cited an example, had only made a phone call to Erwiana's family without carrying out tough actions to resolve the case.

"As head of state and government, SBY is responsible for the protection of migrant workers and their families through policy issuance and implementation as violence and rights abuse cases have also been experienced by many other workers," Wahidah said in a statement made available to The Jakarta Post on Sunday.

Throughout 2013, the SP handled 54 violence and rights violation cases against Indonesian migrant workers. Of that number, only 27 cases have been resolved, showing the government's clumsiness in fighting for the rights of migrant workers as Indonesian citizens.

Ongoing rights abuse cases against Indonesian migrant workers have showed the absence of adequate protection for "foreign exchange heroes". "Erwiana's case has clearly shown that the modern slavery is still ongoing until now," said Wahidah. (ebf)