Labour conditions a growing concern in Aceh
Aceh was one of the hardest hit regions in the 2004 Asian Tsunami. Around two hundred thousand people were killed, and the destruction to the island was immense – about four hundred thousand were left homeless. In the wake of the disaster, huge amounts of aid were pledged around the world. Australia alone promised $1 billion to Indonesia. The money available for Acehnese projects now is also in the billions – certainly more money than the island has ever seen before. Over 500 aid organisations have swarmed to Aceh to help spend this money on reconstruction projects. But Dr Michele Ford, a lecturer in Asian Studies and Indonesian language, says that there’s no one watching how they spend it. And this is leading to less than ideal employment conditions.