Belgian sex workers are set to receive world-first labor rights through the implementation of the new expanded law on workplace safety and protection in the industry.
The new law was passed in May this year, and will officially take effect on Sunday. This makes Belgium the first country in the world to allow sex workers to sign formal employment contracts.
Under these contracts, sex workers will be entitled to the basic labor rights and protections that other professionals have such as access to pension, unemployment, health insurance, family benefits, annual vacation, and maternity leave.
Additionally, it also guarantees the fundamental rights of sex workers, the ability to refuse clients, set conditions for an act, and stop an act at any moment.
In the past, Belgium considered prostitution and buying sex as legal, but unregulated. According to a study by the European Parliament’s Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality, brothels and third-party activities were prohibited under Article 380 of the Criminal Code.
Different policies on prostitution
The policy dates back to 1995 when Belgian law was reformed and partially tolerated third-party gains from prostitution in the country. The study noted that in the last two decades, prostitution in the county was regulated in very different ways.
Today, scholars describe the Belgian landscape as a “system of unregulated tolerance,” citing several municipalities creating various laws and policies on prostitution. Due to this, the act was considered an immoral activity in the country. This included linked contracts on the sale of sexual services and employment as invalid.
A Huge Step
In the past, professionals like bankers, insurers, drivers, and accountants were often accused of pimping. This made it difficult for sex workers to find such professionals. However, in 2022, Belgian lawmakers voted to decriminalize sex work and narrowed the definition of pimping.
With the law’s implementation, employers will not be required to obtain authorization and - meet the following background requirements:
- No prior convictions for sexual assault, human trafficking, or fraud
- Must ensure that premises are clean, sanitary, and equipped with a panic button
- They are prohibited from dismissing an employee who refuses a client or specific act
This is considered a historic moment to end the legal discrimination against sex workers. In an Instagram post, Belgian Union of sex workers member Mel Meliciousss expressed her delight at the law’s passing.
"I am a very proud Belgium sex worker right now,” she expressed.
“I think it’s very important that people know about this, that we share this, that we talk about this. Because 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,” she added.
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Only a handful of countries like New Zealand, the Netherlands, and some places in Australia have decriminalized prostitution. This year, Belgium became the first country in the world to provide comprehensive labor protections for such workers.
