Culture Society, Identity and Belonging
Belgium has become the first country in the world to grant full employment rights to sex workers. Under a new law passed on Sunday, sex workers will be entitled to protections and benefits including official employment contracts, health insurance, pensions, parental leave and sick days.
They will also be able to legally refuse clients and stop an act at any moment. The law establishes strict safety protocols for employers, who must provide hygiene products and install emergency buttons in workspaces.
They will also be subject to background checks to ensure no prior convictions for sexual assault or human trafficking. Other countries like Germany and the Netherlands have decriminalised sex work, but Belgium is the first to implement comprehensive labour protections.
Critics worry the law might worsen risks for undocumented sex workers, who will still be vulnerable to exploitation by criminal groups.
