Belgium, full labour rights granted to sex workers
Sex workers in Belgium will be able to sign formal employment contracts and be entitled to health insurance.
2' min read
2' min read
As of Sunday, sex workers in Belgium will be able to sign formal employment contracts, acquiring employment rights equivalent to those of other professions. A legal breakthrough described by many non-profit organisations in the sector as a real 'revolution'.
The new law recognises fundamental rights for sex workers, including the possibility to refuse clients, choose which services to offer and to stop an act at any time. This legislation is a further step following Belgium's decision in 2022 to decriminalise sex work.
The decriminalisation of 2022 made Belgium the first country in Europe to completely eliminate criminal sanctions against voluntary sex work. This historic measure recognised sex work as a legitimate form of employment, legally separating it from exploitation and human trafficking. The 2022 law laid the groundwork for reducing social stigma and offering more guarantees to sex workers, but the lack of structured regulation had left some gaps in terms of rights and protections, which the new legislation aims to fill.
Benefits include access to health insurance, paid leave, maternity benefits, unemployment benefits and a pension. In addition, the law introduces specific protections with regard to working hours, pay and safety at work, thus solving one of the main problems that plagued workers in the sector.
Employers will be obliged to obtain a permit, comply with strict security protocols and meet suitability requirements, including no convictions for sexual assault or human trafficking. They will also have to provide clean linen, condoms, hygiene products and install emergency buttons in work spaces.
