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The threat of arrest gives the police the power of
extortion. While there is no solid evidence of monetary
extortion from entertainment workers, sexual extortion
is commonplace. Rape, sex without payment, and sexual
harassment by police are frequently reported by entertainment
workers. 94
Another serious problem is the bail out system. Owners
who pay ‘bail money’ to the police will systematically add it
on top of the girl’s ‘debt’. Linked to that is the practice of
pimps and local goons being provided access to girls in police
stations. In cases where defendants are held under the Public
Offence Act, money exchanges cannot be considered a ‘bail’
unless they have been legally ordered by the Chief District
Officer. It is the CDO who sets the bail, and that is the point
at which it becomes legal for someone to pay the CDO to
secure the defendant's release.
Abuse of confidentiality and privacy
Due to social stigma, on themselves as well as their families,
most entertainment workers wish to hide their profession
from the public eye. While the freedom to engage in
entertainment work is a right, the freedom of confidentiality
and privacy is also a right. By law, police are allowed to enter
the privacy of homes and workplaces if they suspect that
‘immoral acts’ are being conducted there. Thus, an
entertainment worker – who can be easily labelled as a sex
worker – has no right to privacy. Privacy and confidentiality
are also routinely abused by the media. Names of arrested
girls and women are sometimes published in newspapers, and
identifiable photographs of girls and women are routinely
placed in print and visual media. 95
Security outside the workplace
Entertainment workers also face everyday security problems,
both in the workplace and out. Girls and women have frequently
reported problems returning home from work late at night,
both from police and from men and street boys who threaten
them, steal their money or mobile phones, or beat them. 96
Many entertainment workers have reported assault as well as
theft from the customers. 97 When asked whether the police
protect them from assault and theft outside the workplace,
the majority said that they would expect only further
harassment, not protection, from the police. 98
Response to exploitation
Although there are now some groups of entertainment workers
as well as non-governmental organisations which seek a
response to harassment and exploitation, many entertainment
workers are afraid to raise their voices. Nearly one third
believe that they do not have the right to protest their
mistreatment. 99
When asked what prevented them from
protesting, more than half stated that they were afraid of
losing their jobs and being unable to support themselves and
their children, or that they were afraid of disgrace and
embarrassment. Others noted their fear of owners, clients or
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