Belgian s3x workers have gained the right to sick days, maternity pay and pension rights under the first law of its kind in the world
Lawmakers voted in May to give s3x workers the same employment protections as any other employee, in an attempt to clamp down on abuse and exploitation.
The law, which went into force on Sunday, ensures that s3x workers have employment contracts and legal protection.
It is intended to end a grey zone created in 2022 when s3x work was decriminalised in Belgium but without conferring any protections on sex workers, or labour rights such as unemployment benefit or health insurance.
Under the law, s3x workers have the right to refuse s3xual partners or to perform specific acts and can stop an act at any time. Nor can they be sacked for these refusals.
Employers must be of “good character” with a business residence in Belgium; they must also ensure their premises are equipped with panic buttons, clean linen, showers and condoms.
The protections do not cover home working, or activities such as striptease and pornography.
The Belgian Union of S3x Workers described the law as “a huge step forward, ending legal discrimination against s3x workers”.
But it said the rules could “be instrumentalised” to reduce or eliminate s3x work. It added: “We already see certain municipalities hiding behind the words ‘safety’ and ‘hygiene’ to promulgate very strict local regulations that make s3x work almost impossible on their territory.”
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