Belgium, a new law recognizes pensions, holidays and sick pay for sex workers

Belgium has written a page of history, becoming the first country in the world to fully recognize the rights of sex workers through formal employment contracts. This epochal turning point guarantees these professionals access to protections such as paid sick days, maternity leave and pension.

The legislation, passed in May and officially going into effect Sunday, offers sex workers the right to refuse customers, define the conditions of the service and interrupt it at any time, without suffering legal or employment consequences.

“Being a Belgian sex worker today is a source of pride,” said Mel Meliciousss, representative of the Utsopi union (which led the battle to arrive at this legislation), on her social media. «This law offers greater protection for those already working in the sector and provides a secure base for those who decide to start».

Sex work in Belgium had never been technically illegal, but the laws often affected the third parties involvedsuch as club owners, drivers or bankers, accused of “exploitation of prostitution”. In 2022, Parliament took a first step towards change by decriminalizing the activity and redefining the concept of exploitation, to ensure sex workers have easier access to support services. The new reform has raised the bar, guaranteeing sex workers working rights similar to those of any other professional category: access to unemployment, family benefits, paid leave and health coverage, including maternity leave and pensions.

The new law imposes strict rules on Employers: Must not have been convicted of crimes such as sexual assault, human trafficking or fraudmust guarantee clean and hygienic working environments, with showers and supplies of condoms, and are required to equip the structures with safety devices, such as emergency buttons. Furthermore, they cannot fire an employee who refuses to accept a customer or perform a specific service.

According to Utsopi, before the law was passed, sex workers were often forced to work in extreme conditions, for example during pregnancy or well beyond retirement age. “This law is an unprecedented achievement: for the first time, sex workers can sign employment contracts that fully protect them.”

The benefits of the law, however, apply exclusively to contract workers, ed they exclude those who work independently or in similar sectorssuch as pornography or striptease. Some feminist associations are concerned that the law could also be used to reduce or eliminate sex work. It remains to be seen how this law will concretely affect the lives of sex workers and whether other countries will follow Belgium’s example.