Official employment contracts for sex workers

[euwc888]

Belgium's sex workers get maternity leave and pensions under world-first law - BBC News

WWW.BBC.CO.UK

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They will be entitled to official employment contracts, health insurance and sick days.

Hope privacy is guaranteed too.

Edited December 1, 2024 by euwc888

[BaronArtz]

Bravo!  

[+ DrownedBoy]

That's what everyone needs. Hell, if I get a house boy after I retire, I plan on seeing a lawyer and making a contract, even if I have to use vague terms due to legal issues. I deserve service, and he deserves protections.

[Peter Eater]

AP-Starting Sunday, sex workers in Belgium are able to sign formal employment contracts and gain labor rights on par with those in other professions in a legal breakthrough some call a “revolution.” 

The new law also establishes fundamental rights for sex workers, including the rights to refuse clients, choose their practices and stop an act at any moment. 

The move follows the country’s 2022 decision to decriminalize sex work.

Under the new regulations, sex workers will have access to health insurance, paid leave, maternity benefits, unemployment support and pensions. The legislation also establishes rules on working hours, pay and safety measures, addressing a long-standing gap in legal protections for those in the industry.

“This is an incredible step forward,” said Isabelle Jaramillo, coordinator of Espace P, an advocacy group involved in drafting the legislation. “It means their profession can finally be recognized as legitimate by the Belgian state.”

“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, hiring someone for sex work automatically made you a pimp, even if the arrangement was consensual,” Jaramillo said. “Now, they’ll have to apply for state authorization to hire employees.”

Employers must now obtain authorization, adhere to strict safety protocols, and meet background requirements, including no prior convictions for sexual assault or human trafficking. They must provide clean linens, condoms and hygiene products, and install emergency buttons in workspaces.

Independent sex work remains permitted, but unregulated third-party hiring or violations of the legal framework will be prosecuted.

Critics argue the law cannot fully address the stigma and risks tied to the trade, especially for undocumented sex workers.

“There’s still a lot of work to be done,” said Jaramillo, emphasizing the need for better police and judicial training to protect marginalized workers.

Although countries such as Germany and the Netherlands have legalized sex work, none have implemented labor protections as comprehensive as Belgium’s.

[Thomas_Belgium]

On 12/1/2024 at 2:26 PM, euwc888 said:

...Hope privacy is guaranteed too.

 

Yes, I'm sure privacy is guaranteed. Before December 1st, many sex workers were employed as masseurs, models, bartenders. There were already self-employed sex workers since 2022 & didn't hear of any privacy problems.

[Luv2play]

Does this law apply to male sex workers and can they organize legal brothels as I assume the female workers can?

[Thomas_Belgium]

14 hours ago, Luv2play said:

Does this law apply to male sex workers and can they organize legal brothels as I assume the female workers can?

 

 

Yes, in the law the gender neutral word "sex worker" is used, so the law applies to male sex workers as well. If I'm not mistaken, (male) sex workers can organize legal cooperative brothels.

 

Source:

https://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/mopdf/2024/06/06_1.pdf

Page 70 646
Article 14.

 

[Ali Gator]

Starting Sunday, sex workers in Belgium will be able to sign formal employment contracts and gain labor rights on par with those in other professions in a legal breakthrough some call a "revolution."

The new law also establishes fundamental rights for sex workers including the right to refuse clients, choose their practices and stop an act at any moment.

The move follows the country's 2022 decision to decriminalize sex work.

Under the new regulations, sex workers will have access to health insurance, paid leave, maternity benefits, unemployment support and pensions. The legislation also establishes rules on working hours, pay and safety measures, addressing a long-standing gap in legal protections for those in the industry.

"This is an incredible step forward," said Isabelle Jaramillo, coordinator of Espace P, an advocacy group involved in drafting the legislation. "It means their profession can finally be recognized as legitimate by the Belgian state."

"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, hiring someone for sex work automatically made you a pimp, even if the arrangement was consensual," said Jaramillo. "Now, They'll have to apply for state authorization to hire employees."

Employers must now obtain authorization, adhere to strict safety protocols, and meet background requirements, including no prior convictions for sexual assault or human trafficking. They must provide clean linens, condoms, and hygiene products, and install emergency buttons in workspaces.

Independent sex work remains permitted, but unregulated third-party hiring or violations of the legal framework will be prosecuted.

Critics argue the law cannot fully address the stigma and risks tied to the trade, especially for undocumented sex workers.

"There's still a lot of work to be done," said Jaramillo, emphasizing the need for better police and judicial training to protect marginalized workers.

While countries such as Germany and the Netherlands have legalized sex work, none have implemented labor protections as comprehensive as Belgium's.

A New Belgium Law Gives Sex Workers Contracts, Benefits and Safety Protection | EDGE United States

WWW.EDGEMEDIANETWORK.COM

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A New Belgium Law Gives Sex Workers Contracts, Benefits and Safety Protection

 

[Thomas_Belgium]

Just out of curiosity, I have no idea if it's realistic:

Hypotetically, would you contribute to a crowdfunding to start a legal gay (cooperative) brothel?

[+ FrankR]

1 hour ago, Thomas_Belgium said:

Just out of curiosity, I have no idea if it's realistic:

Hypotetically, would you contribute to a crowdfunding to start a legal gay (cooperative) brothel?

Yes, we should do it. I suggest we issue token on a blockchain to recognize contributions. We can call it canoodle coin! 🫵