Belgium has taken a historic step in the fight for labor rights by introducing a groundbreaking law that provides sex workers with formal employment contracts, health insurance, pensions, maternity leave, and sick days. This legislation, the first of its kind globally, seeks to elevate the status of sex work, providing essential benefits that many workers in various sectors often take for granted.
For women like Sophie, who worked up until just before giving birth, the new law heralds a life-changing shift. She recalls the hardships of balancing her job with being a mother, a struggle that left her vulnerable with limited options, especially after giving birth to her fifth child via Caesarean section when she was medically advised to take six weeks of bed rest. For her and others, the right to maternity leave, funded by their employer, is a critical advancement.
“The law gives us the opportunity to exist as people,” says Sophie, highlighting the recognition and dignity that comes with these new rights. With tens of millions of sex workers around the world, Belgium’s move can serve as an inspiring example for other nations. While sex work was decriminalized in Belgium only last year, other countries like Germany and the Netherlands have also begun to navigate similar paths, albeit without these comprehensive protections.
Human Rights Watch researcher Erin Kilbride applauds Belgium’s initiative, asserting that this development is radical and should inspire other countries to follow suit. However, some critics, like Julia Crumière from the NGO Isala, express concern that such legal recognition could inadvertently normalize a profession laden with potential risks and exploitation.
Mel, another sex worker, reflects on her experiences before the law, faced with upholding her safety while managing demanding clients in threatening situations. The law now empowers her to refuse clients or actions she is uncomfortable with, a change she believes will lead to a safer work environment.
The initiative arose from persistent advocacy, particularly during the struggles of the COVID-19 pandemic, when sex workers faced severe financial hardships without state support. Victoria, a former escort and current president of the Belgian Union of Sex Workers (UTSOPI), has been a leading advocate for this change. She sees prostitution as a social service—offering companionship and attention—rather than merely a transaction.
Concerns remain about the legal framework, particularly regarding the regulation of those who manage sex workers. Under the new law, employers must adhere to specific regulations, including barring individuals with serious criminal convictions from hiring sex workers, a measure that aims to promote safety within the industry.
While many in the industry view the new legislation as a pathway to improve their working conditions, there remains a contingent of sex workers who yearn for alternatives outside the field altogether. Julia Crumière emphasizes that most of the women she aids want to escape from the industry rather than gain rights within it.
Despite the division in perspectives, the overarching sentiment among many is hope. Mel believes that by bringing sex work into a regulated and accepted sphere, the community can shift towards greater safety and respect.
“Belgium is setting a precedent,” she states with pride, feeling optimistic about her future now that her rights are recognized and protected. This progressive law could pave the way for a new understanding of labor rights within the sex industry, encouraging other nations to consider similar reforms to protect vulnerable workers.
