Belgium has become the first country in the world to establish rights and employment contracts for sex workers. Thanks to the new law, they will be provided with maternity and sick leave, pensions, health insurance and official employment contracts, among other benefits.
In addition to the rights mentioned above, they will also be able to reject clients, stop the act at any time and choose what to do and what not to do, in addition to regulating working hours and their salary.
This measure has critics who consider that prostitution is “a profession that in its essence is always violent” and that “it is dangerous to normalize”, as pointed out by Julia Crumière, a volunteer with Isala, an NGO that helps sex workers on the streets of Belgium.
Archive image of a brothel.
The measure was implemented as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, when the lack of rights and exploitation suffered by this sector became more evident than ever. Thanks to the protests, the law was put on the table and was moved forward.
The British chain BBCwho has been able to interview several workers in the country, provides testimonies such as that of ‘Sophie’ (pseudonym), who claims that she had to work until the day before giving birth to her fifth child by cesarean section. He even had “sexual relations with clients a week after giving birth”, despite the fact that the doctor had recommended rest for six weeks.
Another woman in prostitution, under the pseudonym ‘Mel’, has confessed that she was forced “to perform oral sex on a client without a condom, despite knowing that a sexually transmitted disease (STD) was circulating in the brothel.” “My choice was to spread the disease or not make money,” he laments.
Already in 2022, countries such as Germany, Greece, the Netherlands and Türkiye (in addition to Belgium) will decriminalize sex work. A step that is completed with the establishment, for the first time, of such a law that seeks to include it in the labor market and fight against trafficking in women, sexual exploitation and abuse.
Regulated pimping
From the businessman’s point of viewpimps will be required to obtain state licensing, adhere to strict safety protocols, provide clean bedding, condoms and hygiene products, and install emergency buttons in rooms. In addition to prohibit people with criminal records for serious crimes they can open brothels.
“From the businessman’s point of view, this will also be a revolution. They will have to apply for a state authorization to hire sex workers“defends Isabelle Jaramillo, coordinator of Espace P., an advocacy group that participated in drafting the law, when interviewed by Washington Post.
A night of brothels on the A4 in Andalucia: in S’cándalo only the doorman wears a mask
“Under previous legislation, hiring someone for sex work automatically made you a pimp, even if the agreement was consensual,” says Jaramillo, “now, they will have to request state authorization to hire employees.”
Kris and his wife, interviewed by the BBCemploy 15 sex workers: “I hope that the bad employers stay out and that the good people (referring to the good practice they carry out), who want to practice this profession honestly, stay, and the more the better,” he says. .
From the NGO Human Rights Watch They believe that these restrictions and controls “will significantly reduce the power they have over sex workers,” says Erin Kilbride.
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