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Belgium on Sunday passed a landmark law granting sex workers the same rights as other workers.
The new law ensures that sex workers are treated as employees, entitling them to benefits such as maternity leave, pension contributions, and legal safeguards against exploitation.
The decision is a result of months of protests in 2022, prompted by the lack of state support for sex workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The historic change aims to offer sex workers greater legal recognition and workplace protections, marking a first for any country worldwide.
The law also extends significant protections to sex workers, guaranteeing the right to refuse sexual partners, specific acts, or to stop an act at any time.
In addition, employers of sex workers must meet rigorous standards, including having a business address in Belgium, maintaining a good character, and ensuring premises are equipped with panic buttons, clean linen, showers, and condoms.
The Belgian Union of Sex Workers said the law is “a huge step forward, ending legal discrimination against sex workers.”
Sophie, a sex worker in Belgium, told the BBC that the new law is an “opportunity for us to exist as people.”
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 Sex Workers described the law as “a huge step forward, ending legal discrimination against sex workers”.
But it said the rules could “be instrumentalised” to reduce or eliminate sex work. It added: “We already see certain municipalities hiding behind the words ‘safety’ and ‘hygiene’ to promulgate very strict local regulations that make sex work almost impossible on their territory.”
Some feminist organisations have criticised the law. When the bill was published in 2023, the Council of Francophone Women of Belgium said it would be “catastrophic” for young girls and victims of trafficking.
“To assume that prostitution exists and that we must protect workers is to accept this sexist violence and not to fight it,” the head of the organisation told Le Soir.
