Sex workers in Belgium now have Labour Rights, and will have access to Legal work Benefits like pensions, health insurance, maternity leave, according to new Law
The Government of Belgium have granted labour rights to sex workers, with pension, health insurance, maternity leave and other legal work benefits.
Though Belgium will not be the first country to legalize sex work, but it is the first to grant the profession labour rights, with access to real employment benefits, such as pensions, health insurance, sick and maternity leave, and even unemployment support.
The new legislation also includes rules on working hours, pay and safety measures, which is quite often unregulated. And about the safety measures, it is a welcome development to help safeguard the lives of those engaged in the profession, which has often been a risky turn.
The Government of Belgium therefore identify sex workers as citizens who are engaged in a career they like and choose, and hence deserves protection and care by the government like every other citizen. They are of course rendering services to people who are in want of it.
Isabelle Jaramillo, a coordinator of Espace P, an advocacy group involved in drafting the legislation, confirmed the new law, saying it is an incredible step forward, explaining that the profession will finally be recognized as legitimate by the Belgian state.
“This is an incredible step forward. It means their profession can finally be recognized as legitimate by the Belgian state,” she said.
Isabelle also pointed out that employers of sex workers are now regulated, that employers would have to get authorization from the government before they can hire sex workers.
These authorization comes with strict protocols which must be followed by the employers, namely; safety measure, meeting background requirements, including no prior convictions for sexual assault or human trafficking, provide clean linens, condoms, and hygiene products, and also install emergency buttons in workspaces.
“From the employer’s perspective, this will also be a revolution. They’ll have to apply for a state authorization to hire sex workers,” Jaramillo said.
“Under the previous legislation,” she continued, “hiring someone for sex work automatically made you a pimp, even if the arrangement was consensual. Now, They’ll have to apply for state authorization to hire employees.”
Independent sex work remains permitted according to Isabelle, but unregulated third-party hiring or violations of the legal framework would be prosecuted.
