The first law of its kind in the world • Should counteract legal discrimination against sex workers
In Belgium, a new law has given sex workers the right to sick days, parental leave and a pension.
The proposal was voted through in May with hopes of reducing exploitation and abuse within the industry.
The world’s first law giving sex workers the same rights as other workers came into force on Sunday in Belgium. The law must ensure that sex workers have legal protection and employment contracts. The purpose of the law is to dispel the gray zone that was created in 2022 – when sex work was decriminalized in the country without introducing any type of protection or rights.
The new law enshrines the right of sex workers to say no to sexual partners, to refuse to issue sexual acts and to stop the act whenever they want. Dismissing someone on these points will also be illegal.
The law sparks debate in Belgium
The employers must have a business in Belgium and the premises must be equipped with panic buttons, condoms, showers and clean sheets. The law does not protect prostitution that takes place in the home.
The Belgian Union of Sex Workers describes the law as “a major step forward to end legal discrimination against sex workers”. At the same time, among others, a Belgian women’s rights organization has criticized the new law for going in the wrong direction and said that it is “catastrophic” for young girls and victims of trafficking.
– To assume that prostitution exists and that we must protect workers is to accept this sexist violence and not to fight it, says the head of the organization to Soiree.