Buying sex was completely decriminalized in Belgium in 2022. It then became one of the few European countries where it is completely legal to both buy and sell sex.
Proponents of the law said it was a step toward making it safer for sex workers and giving them the same rights as other workers.
And on Sunday, additional laws will come into effect – giving sex workers the same labor law benefits as most other Belgians. It will thus be the first country in the world to do so, writes BBC.
“We get to exist for real”
Sex workers will be able to report sick, receive a pension, take parental leave and regulated working hours. In addition, they will have the right to choose who they want to sell sex to and be able to cancel a sex act at any time – without risking negative consequences.
– This is a fantastic step forward. Their profession will finally be recognized as legitimate by the Belgian state, says Isabelle Jaramillo of the interest organization Espace P to AP,
– It is an opportunity for us to exist for real, says sex worker Sophie to the BBC.
Employers will need to apply for government approval to hire sex workers. They also need to ensure that the premises where the sex sale takes place are equipped with condoms, clean sheets and buttons the worker can press in an emergency.
The criticism: Normalizing a dangerous profession
However, the new laws are facing opposition from some quarters. Critics mainly say that the law does not remove the stigma surrounding sex work and that it does not fully prevent the risks that come with selling sex.
– It is dangerous because it normalizes a profession that is fundamentally always violent, says Julia Crumière of an organization that helps sex workers on the street in Belgium to the BBC.