I was writing a letter page opinion on this when I realize that I should make this as direct as possible so that everyone can save their time reading but still understand the main point.
The most practical program for this is to provide the jobs instead of skills for the prostitutes which I would identify as unskilled labor. It is written in above paragraph that the Rp. 2.1 billion fund (approximately $240.000) from the local government planned to be use for skill building be it for doing handicraft jobs or other service jobs.
I would say that the best way for the government is to ask for some collaboration from private companies / outsourcing companies for these labors beside creating jobs themselves to best use of their fund, or the government might make their own outsourcing firm. The problem with these unskilled labors are that their previous jobs allows them to adjust their income, if they are willing and able to take on more orders, they could earn more. If one day they don't feel like taking any jobs, they can just stop and start anytime they want. And one thing that needs to be clarify is that, how many are these unskilled labors, and their ability to read and write and count.
If there are 10000 unskilled labors in the pool, with 5% that are able to write read and do basic counting, these people will have no problem finding jobs. But finding jobs that they would keep is a bit challenging. 500 people could work at malls, as shop keepers, restaurants, or at any retail shops, they could also work at clubhouses or golf caddies. The pay won't be high, but working at crowded place / entertainment center might make working don't feel like working for some.
70% of the unskilled workers, should be recommended to work in labor intensive factories which are ready to accept high influx of workers in normal times. 7000 unskilled workers are not difficult to find jobs in east java, since the province is an industrial area. Companies that are labor intensive such as manufacturing companies for example: clothing manufacturers, food processors, tobacco companies, home appliances company, and many others. Services companies would be cleaning company, general office company (receptionist, security, sales, etc), pests eradication companies, etc.
The rest of the workers are those can go into niche workplaces, such as therapy places/massages houses. These workers does need to go to therapist school for a month, then they are ready to be placed in therapy houses. Some if they prefers, can start their own business selling street snacks in schools/doing catering, etc. they could also be transmigrated to out of Java to reduce population as well as developing other part of the country. Then those out of Java will work on the land, growing crops, building new villages and towns.
Rather than using the fund for training to make handicrafts/services, the fund could be allocated for microfinancing these people, encouraging them to make home industry (for those who can't stand working 8-5). The rest of the budget will go for creating an outsourcing company (In USA, this would be called employment agency). The firm will work to input these workers into the society through available unskilled jobs ready in the job market, thus would grow the overall economy of the province. Some small quantity of the fund might be allocated for scholarships (these are for those underage girls in the pool/ any young adults). If there are any more leftover funds, it will be use to give temporary housing and food or transmigrating purposes for those who finds difficulties moving on to the current normal societies.
The underlying idea came from my workplace. I worked in a labor intensive company, where more than 80% of people working in the factory came in with no skill nor any credential, other than that they are recommended to have graduated from high school. The last 'requirement' was not really a requirement, its a recommendation.Why would high school certificate was a recommendation and not a requirement? Because the real schooling actually happened at workplace.Reading writing skills are not required. As long as they could understand and follow instruction and work hard.
If I'm given the chance to allocate these funds, those things I would pursue after I define the definite population, how many are the workers and what are their basic skills and background, I would also would like to map out potential employers/manufacturers/job market. Obama said that America was built through making goods to sell, that's exactly the answer, these people should be outsourced to companies that make real world needed goods which can be sell and most of these jobs are an answers to unskilled labors and can takes big number of workers at one time.
In the end if some 3% of the labor after given the equal opportunity to takes on other jobs still prefers to come back to their old jobs in the prostitution, then consulting service should be provided. But after all of these efforts are done and still they would like to come back to the jobs, then government effort stops there. No more fund are allocated for this population.
Personally I would be hoping that somehow someone with the power to allocate the fund would come across this opinion and would consider the proposals.
