PARIS (AP) – Starting Sunday, Belgian sex workers will be able to sign formal employment contracts and gain the same labor rights as workers in other professions, in a legal advance dubbed a “revolution.” The new law also establishes fundamental rights for sex workers, including the right to refuse clients, choose the act, and discontinue the act at any time.
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 assistance and pensions. The law also sets rules for working hours, pay and safety measures, addressing long-standing gaps in legal protection for industry participants.
“This is an incredible step forward,” said Isabel Jaramillo, coordinator of the advocacy group Espace P, which drafted the bill. “This means that their profession is finally recognized as legitimate by the Belgian state.”
“From an employer's point of view, this is also a revolution. To employ sex workers, you have to apply for a state license,” Jaramillo said.
“Under the previous law, if you hired someone for sex work, even if it was consensual, you were automatically a pimp,” Jaramillo said. “Now we need to apply for a state license to hire employees.”
Employers must now obtain permits, adhere to strict safety protocols and meet background requirements, including no prior sexual assault or human trafficking convictions. Clean linens, condoms, and hygiene products should be provided, and an emergency button should be installed in the workspace.
Independent sex work continues to be permitted, but the employment of unregulated third parties and violations of the legal framework are prosecuted.
Critics say the law does not fully address the stigma and risks associated with the trade, especially for undocumented sex workers.
“There's still a lot of work to do,” Jaramillo said, stressing the need for stronger police and judicial training to protect marginalized workers.
Countries such as Germany and the Netherlands have legalized sex work, but none have as comprehensive labor protections as Belgium.
