Prostitution Concerns Rise Near Indonesia‘s New Capital City, Nusantara
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JAKARTA – Indonesia’s enterprising new capital city project, Nusantara, โคis facing unexpected social challenges as reports emerge of increased commercial sex work in the surrounding area. The burgeoning construction site and โขinflux of workersโ have created โconditions that authorities are now grappling with, raising concerns about exploitation and public health.
The Emergence of aโฃ Red-light Zone
Nusantara Capital City, located in Penajam Paser Utara, East Kalimantan, has becomeโค a destination for sex workers seeking higher earnings than those available in nearby cities.A 25-year-old sex worker, identified asโ Sari, โฃstated she now primarily seeks clients in Nusantara, shifting from previous work in โBalikpapan and Samarinda.She โขattributes this change to increased demand and higher rates โฃoffered in theโ new capital region.
According to โSari, the majority of her clients are โconstruction workers involved in building government facilities and essentialโข infrastructure. There are also civil servants who stop by,
sheโค told Tempo magazine in its August 11-17, 2025โข edition. โค The peak of her โขearnings, reaching Rp20 million monthly, coincided with the height of construction activity leading up to Indonesia’s Independence Day on August 17, 2024.
Did You Know? Indonesia’s โdecision to relocate its capitalโ from Jakartaโฃ to Nusantara is driven by a need to alleviate overcrowding and environmental โคpressures in Jakarta,โ and also to distribute economic progress more evenly across the archipelago [[1]].
Operational Dynamics and Online Platforms
Prostitution in the โNusantaraโ area operates around the clock, with sex workers receiving clients during โwork hours and late into the night, often at hotels on the outskirts of the government center. The MiChat application has become a primary โขtool for facilitating transactions, withโฃ workers advertising services, photos, and locations. Initial rates begin at Rp300,000.
However, recent slowdowns in construction have impacted business. Sari reports a decrease in clients, now servingโ a maximum of four compared to ten during peak periods, asโฃ theโ capital relocation project โfaces evolving priorities.
Official Response and Internal Concerns
Basuki Hadimuljono, Head of the IKN authority, โฃpubliclyโ denied widespread prostitution in the area, โstating, That’s not in IKN, but in Sepaku.
This statement was made on july 8, 2025, at the Parliament Complex inโฃ Senayan, Jakarta.However, sources within Tempo magazine revealed that Hadimuljono, aโ former Minister of Public โWorks and Housing, privatelyโค expressed concern over the growing sex trade.
In mid-july 2025,โฃ the โIKN Authority convened a meeting with the Association of Sepaku Inn Entrepreneurs, attended by 40โ inn owners. The meeting, led by Deputy of Development Control Thomas Umbu Pati and Deputy of Social Affairs Alimuddin, focused on โaddressing the spread of prostitution. Pujiyana Hugo, owner โof Puncak IKN Inn, reported that inn owners were instructed to implement stricter guest rules and install surveillance cameras.
Pro Tip: Understanding the socio-economic factors driving this issue is crucialโ for developingโ effective and lasting solutions.
Some inn owners voiced concerns that theseโฃ regulations could โnegatively impact their โbusinesses, arguing that sex workers and their clients contribute to โrevenue, โขespecially given the uncertainty โขsurrounding the โคcapital relocation project’s continuation.
Key Developments โTimeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| August 17, 2024 | Peak construction activity priorโฃ to Indonesia’s Independence Day. |
| July 8, 2025 | Basuki Hadimuljono denies widespread prostitution in IKN. |
| Mid-July โ2025 | IKN Authority โขmeets with Sepaku โInn โEntrepreneurs to discuss prostitution. |
| July 31, 2025 | Pujiyana Hugoโ reportsโ inn โowners instructed to implement stricter rules. |
What โขlong-term strategies can be implemented to address the root causes of this issue and protect vulnerable workers?
How will the IKN โAuthority balanceโ economic development with social responsibilityโ in the new capital city?
The rise of prostitution near โคnusantara reflects broader challenges associated with โrapid urbanization and large-scale infrastructure projects in developing nations. โคThese projects frequently enough attract a transient workforce, creating vulnerabilities to exploitation and trafficking. โ Effective mitigationโฃ strategies require a multi-faceted approach, including robust law enforcement, socialโ support services, and economic โขopportunities for vulnerable populations. The Indonesian government’s commitment to sustainable development will be tested by its ability to address these complexโค social issues alongside its ambitious infrastructure goals.
Frequently Asked Questionsโฃ about Prostitution in nusantara
- What isโฃ driving theโ increase in prostitution near Nusantara? The increase is primarily driven by the influx of construction workers and the higher rates offered for sexual services in the area.
- what is the IKN Authority’s official stance โon the issue? The Head of the IKN Authority initially denied widespread prostitution, but internal sources suggest concern within the authority.
- What measures โคare being taken to address the problem? The IKN Authority has met withโ inn owners to discuss implementing stricter guest rules and surveillance.
- Is the situation improving? Reports indicate a slowdown in business for sex workers due to reduced โconstruction activity.
- What are the potential long-termโค consequences of this issue? โฃ The long-term consequences could include increased rates of sexually transmitted infections, human trafficking, and social instability.
This is a developing story. โWe will continue to provide updates as more data โbecomesโค available.
Share this article with your network โฃto raise awareness about this important โขissue. Your comments and insights are valuable – โฃjoin the conversation below!
