Belgium has set a new benchmark in Europe by formally recognizing sex work as a legitimate profession, granting workers the same employment rights as those in other sectors.
This historic legislation, passed in May and enacted on Sunday, allows sex workers to sign formal contracts and access critical benefits such as health insurance, pensions, family allowances, maternity leave, and paid vacations.
The legal shift builds on Belgium’s 2022 decision to decriminalize sex work, which also narrowed the definition of pimping.
This adjustment ensured that sex workers could access essential services, such as banking, insurance, transportation, and accounting, without fear of discrimination or legal repercussions.
The new law goes even further, offering sex workers labor rights and protections on par with other professions, addressing long-standing inequities in the industry.
The legislation guarantees sex workers the fundamental rights to refuse clients, set the terms of any act, and halt an act at any moment.
What this means
Employers hiring sex workers are now required to obtain official authorization and meet stringent background checks, including having no prior convictions for sexual assault, human trafficking, or fraud.
- Additionally, employers must maintain clean and sanitary premises, provide hygiene products, and install panic buttons for enhanced safety.
- Employers are prohibited from dismissing an employee who refuses a client or declines to perform a specific act, further strengthening worker protections.
- These changes aim to ensure sex workers are treated equitably while creating safer working environments.
- The reforms also address issues faced by sex workers before the introduction of labor protections.
- According to UTSOPI, Belgium’s sex worker union, many workers previously felt compelled to continue working late into pregnancy or past retirement age due to a lack of financial safety nets.
- The introduction of pensions, unemployment benefits, and other rights now offers a much-needed framework for long-term security.
What to know
The legislation has been hailed as a “revolution” by advocates. Isabelle Jaramillo, coordinator of Espace P, described it as a transformative step that legitimizes the profession in the eyes of the state and improves conditions for both workers and employers.
Mel Meliciousss, a sex worker and member of UTSOPI, celebrated the law’s enactment, saying, “People who are already working in the industry will be much more protected [ed], and also people who are going to work in the industry also know what their rights are.”
- Despite its groundbreaking nature, the law has not been without criticism.
- Advocates argue that it does not fully address the stigma or challenges faced by undocumented sex workers.
- Nevertheless, Belgium’s move is a significant step in integrating comprehensive labor protections into one of the world’s oldest professions, setting a precedent for other nations to follow.
