On Sunday, Belgium became the first nation in the world to permit sex workers to sign official employment contracts, giving them access to benefits including pensions, maternity pay, and sick leave.
Additionally, the new law protects sex workers’ basic rights, such as the right to reject customers, establish terms for their employment, and stop an act at any moment.
Despite being passed in May, the law just became operative on Sunday. Mel Meliciousss, a member of the Belgian organization of sex workers, UTSOPI, wrote on Instagram, “I am a very proud Belgium sex worker right now.”
“Those who are currently employed in the industry will have far greater protection, and those who plan to work in the industry are also aware of their rights.”
Belgium had already avoided making it illegal to offer or pay for sex services, preferring to punish brothels and other individuals who assist sex trade, including drivers, bankers, and landlords, on the pretext of “pimping.”
With the new law, sex workers will have the same labor rights as those in other professions, furthering these efforts.
These include having access to maternity leave, health insurance, pensions, family allowances, unemployment insurance, and yearly vacations.
Employers are now required to get permission, maintain a secure and clean workplace with panic buttons, and have no past convictions for fraud, human trafficking, or sexual assault. Additionally, they are not allowed to fire employees for refusing a customer or performing a particular act.
These modifications are the result of years of lobbying by UTSOPI, Belgium’s sex worker union, which brought attention to the unstable working conditions that existed prior to these safeguards.
Due to a lack of benefits, many were compelled to work past retirement age or far into pregnancy. In May, the union declared, “This law is a huge step forward, ending legal discrimination against sex workers by allowing a full-fledged contract.”
Only sex workers with official employment contracts are covered by the protections; self-employed individuals, those engaged in striptease or pornography, and others are not.
Even in nations like New Zealand, the Netherlands, and portions of Australia where sex work is no longer illegal, Belgium’s changes are unique because they offer a higher degree of thorough labor safeguards.
–Deeprows News
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