Kannur: Kerala, which is home to more than 3.5 million migrant labourers, has also become a destination for migrant sex workers. A peer group survey conducted by Kerala AIDS Control Society found that women are coming to the state from Bengal, Bihar and Odisha to take part in sex trade.

Most of these women come to Kerala claiming to be relatives of the migrant labourers working here. Perumbavoor has the highest percentage of these migrant sex workers.

Out of the 12 women, who were caught in a raid by the police a few months back in Thrissur, 7 belonged to migrant community. The survey also found that more women are coming from Bengal via agents.

The authorities have also cautioned against the outbreak of sexually transmitted diseases in the state owing to the findings. Kerala AIDS Control Society’s joint secretary Dennis Joseph said that the society is organising awareness programmes, including exhibiting posters in Hindi, Bengali, Odia and Assamese languages.