Cambodian sex workers better off home than Australia say officials

Wed, 30 Apr 2008
DPA

Phnom Penh - Cambodian officials expressed concern Wednesday after an Australian sex worker association called for skilled migrant visas for foreign prostitutes willing to work there, citing an Australian shortage. Cambodia, infamous for its flesh trade, would not allow sex workers to travel to Australia on skilled migrant visas to ply their trade if it could possibly help it, government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said.

"We just banned marriages to foreigners because of exploitation issues. Now it is difficult to marry a Cambodian, but for sex work it will be even more difficult," he said by telephone.

Cambodia banned marriages to foreigners earlier this month, citing potential abuse of often under-educated and poor Cambodian women who often do not understand their rights.

Australia's Scarlet Alliance, a lobby group for brothel owners, Tuesday demanded a skilled migration stream for foreign sex workers, saying Australia needs them as much as it needs more doctors.

"We are seeking a human rights approach to labour migration generally, so that any labour migration policy can include a non-discriminatory approach to sex workers as well," Scarlet Alliance spokesperson Elena Jeffreys told national broadcaster ABC Tuesday.

She said that the millions of dollars a year the immigration department spent on deportations and brothel raids would be saved if sex workers could apply for visas under the skilled migrant category.

However, Cambodia urged caution when suggesting such a scheme.

Cambodian officials and rights activists pointed out Wednesday that most Cambodian sex workers, some of whom currently work for as little as 1.25 dollars a client and rarely fit criteria for an Australian work visa, were ripe for exploitation.

"We would not support a proposal like this, but of course it is up to the individual sex workers whether they apply," leading rights activist Kek Galabru said by telephone "I will advise against it."