Belgium Becomes First Country To Give Sex Workers Legal Rights

[RAMROD 117,050]

Belgian sex workers have gained the right to sick days, maternity pay and pension rights under the first law of its kind in the world.

Lawmakers voted in May to give sex workers the same employment protections as any other employee, in an attempt to clamp down on abuse and exploitation.

The law, which went into force on Sunday, ensures that sex workers have employment contracts and legal protection.

It is intended to end a grey zone created in 2022 when sex work was decriminalised in Belgium but without conferring any protections on sex workers, or labour rights such as unemployment benefit or health insurance.

Under the law, sex workers have the right to refuse sexual partners or to perform specific acts and can stop an act at any time. Nor can they be sacked for these refusals.

Employers must be of “good character” with a business residence in Belgium; they must also ensure their premises are equipped with panic buttons, clean linen, showers and condoms.

The protections do not cover home working, or activities such as striptease and ****ography.

The Belgian Union of Sex Workers described the law as “a huge step forward, ending legal discrimination against sex workers”.

But it said the rules could “be instrumentalised” to reduce or eliminate sex work. It added: “We already see certain municipalities hiding behind the words ‘safety’ and ‘hygiene’ to promulgate very strict local regulations that make sex work almost impossible on their territory.”

 

https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/01/belgium-sex-workers-win-maternity-pay-and-pension-rights-in-world-first

[PartySick 172,539]

I'm curious to see how this works in the long run tbh. But at face value, I'm always a big fan of regulation over prohibition and if it can limit how many people are abused or even kidnapped and trafficked I'm here for it.

[Oriane 22,768]

I'm curious how it's the first country to do that, when there are countries that have legalized prostitution completely for a much longer time, and in theory it means that sex workers have the same rights as any other employee.

[Freud 5,983]

Government Hookers impact

[Bronco 25,123]

5 hours ago, Oriane said:

I'm curious how it's the first country to do that, when there are countries that have legalized prostitution completely for a much longer time, and in theory it means that sex workers have the same rights as any other employee.

The issue lies in how we define it as "legalized". 
Some countries get lumped under this definition because it's decriminalised so there's no enforced legal penalty. 
And then even in the areas where it's legalised, often it just means they've removed the criminal aspect and not brought in regulation or support. So some countries have it legalised but organized trade like Brothels are still illegal.
And then some countries have it so its legal to sell, but illegal to buy which claims to protect victims of trafficking.  

So it's entirely likely that this is the first time where sex workers are explicitly protected under employment law. But other countries where organised sex work is legal may have implicit protections for sex workers under employment law. 

[Oriane 22,768]

57 minutes ago, Bronco said:

The issue lies in how we define it as "legalized". 
Some countries get lumped under this definition because it's decriminalised so there's no enforced legal penalty. 
And then even in the areas where it's legalised, often it just means they've removed the criminal aspect and not brought in regulation or support. So some countries have it legalised but organized trade like Brothels are still illegal.
And then some countries have it so its legal to sell, but illegal to buy which claims to protect victims of trafficking.  

So it's entirely likely that this is the first time where sex workers are explicitly protected under employment law. But other countries where organised sex work is legal may have implicit protections for sex workers under employment law. 

Yeah I'm thinking of Germany where I live for example, where brothels are recognized and legalized and prostitution is supposed to be treated like any other job. I tried to look up the different aspects mentioned in OP, like maternity leave and health insurance, and all I found was general documentation stating that every employee has to have access to these. So I'm not sure how it works, the way I always understood it is that they're treated as any other worker and have the same rights. There must be something missing in practice.

[Bronco 25,123]

21 minutes ago, Oriane said:

Yeah I'm thinking of Germany where I live for example, where brothels are recognized and legalized and prostitution is supposed to be treated like any other job. I tried to look up the different aspects mentioned in OP, like maternity leave and health insurance, and all I found was general documentation stating that every employee has to have access to these. So I'm not sure how it works, the way I always understood it is that they're treated as any other worker and have the same rights. There must be something missing in practice.

It'll likely be down to how the employment is regulated. Without an explicit "this is how they must be treated" it can be pretty easy to find shortcuts. 

Like how Uber can claim its drivers are self-employed to prevent them unionising etc. Wouldn't be surprised if the classic "self-employed but work through a 3rd party" trick is being used as it cuts down on cost.