Tax for Prostitutes in Indonesia

Prostitutes in Indonesia will soon have to pay a 10% income tax, if it is for the member of the Regional House of Representatives in Indonesia’s Batam island. Riky Solihin, member of the National Awakening Party – PKB – requested that an income tax of 10% should be paid from all prostitutes at rehabilitation centers which are turning more and more into brothels. The additional tax income could be used to develop the region.

“I’m sure tax from prostitutes would boost Batam’s regional income, which in the end could prove to be useful for development,” Riky Solihin stated yesterday. On of the rehabilitation centers he was referring to, the Sintam Rehabilitation Center, is located at Teluk Pandan in Batam. It houses 1200 prostitutes which work in 40 bars in the same area. The prostitutes are forced to go to the center after they are arrested. Riky claims though that most of the women living in the center would still do the same work. He suggests that the tax should apply to all “short-term transactions”

The suggested income tax for Indonesia’s prostitutes obviously sparked quite a controversy. The head of the Commission 2 at the Regional House of Representatives in Batam, Yudy Kurnia, was heard saying that Riky’s suggestion is “insane”. “If we applied income tax for prostitutes, it means we would be legalizing adultery. I think the idea is insane. It’s very wrong,” Yudi commented. The Chairman of the PKB’s central executive board, Marwan Jafar, wanted to make clear that Riky’s request was only his personal opinion and does not come from the National Awakening Party.

Batam island is located near Malaysia and Singapore and well known for its night life. There are karaoke or disco bars almost everywhere that lure many prostitutes to make their living on the tiny island. What do you think of  Riky Solihin’s suggestion?