In the late 1890s, women coolies constituted only about ten percent of the labour force on the Deli plantations. Most of these women were Javanese. They were young, unmarried and ostensibly brought over to lure in more male workers for the plantations. Thus, the trafficking of women workers was highly profitable and well organised at the time. Further, the wages of female coolies were much lower than that of men. As no housing was provided, the women were forced to stay with the men. Many of them became victims of the management and foremen, who exploited them sexually. Due to poverty, venereal diseases, and lack of health care, most of the women coolies on the estates led wretched lives.
