Many sex workers inwill now be able to access parental leave, sick days, and pensions under new legislation that came into effect this week.
The world-first legislation is designed to improve the safety of sex workers in the workplace.
The newdoesn’t apply to self-employed sex workers.
It comes after Belgium decriminalised sex work in 2022.
Sex work
In May, Belgium’s Parliament passed this law to allow employment contracts for sex workers. The implementation was delayed while details were worked out.
As well as excluding self-employed sex workers, the law does not cover dancers, adult film stars, or web-cam sex workers.
Workers’ rights
Under the law, sex workers employed by a business will have access to paid leave, pensions, unemployment payments, and parental leave.
Contracts will need to include hours and pay.
Employers must not have been convicted of serious crimes, and must make sure rooms have emergency buttons so workers can get help.
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Additionally, sex workers now legally have the right to refuse a client or a client’s request. They cannot be fired for doing so.
Advocate
The reforms were spearheaded by sex-worker unions and advocacy groups who worked directly with the government.
In a post to social media, Belgian sex worker Mel Melicious said it was a “historical day”.
“I am a very proud Belgian sex worker right now. [The union] had a very difficult job of making this happen, but they did make it happen.”
Concerns
Isala, a Belgium-based organisation dedicated to helping women exit the sex work industry, has criticised the recent legal reform as a step backward.
It said the new law gives ‘pimps’ legal recognition as an “employer”.
“This amounts to normalising the exploitation of women’s bodies and sexuality, legitimising the fact that men can buy them,” the organisation said.
It also argued the law is “contrary to protection against sexual harassment at work”.
