Prostitutes will be entitled to health insurance, pensions and maternity leave under the world’s first labor law in Belgium – which also offers mediation in disputes with pimps

Belgium has become the first country in the world to pass a labor law that gives sex workers new rights, including access to pensions, health insurance and maternity leave.

The new law, ratified on Friday, allows sex workers to sign employment contracts with pimps that give them access to rights they previously did not have, despite the legalization of the world’s oldest profession in 2022.

They will also have access to unemployment and family benefits, as well as annual leave rights, and the new law gives them the right to terminate their contracts without notice.

In addition to the benefits, the law protects prostitutes from work-related problems and forces pimps to adhere to strict working conditions.

Sex workers now have the right to refuse clients and sexual acts at any time, and they can refuse to sit behind Amsterdam-style windows or advertise at all if they believe there is a risk to their safety.

Sex workers will also have access to unemployment and family benefits, as well as the right to annual leave (File Image)

However, if a sex worker chooses to exercise these rights more than ten times in six months, the sex worker or pimp can request a government-backed mediator to come in and settle disputes.

However, the pimp cannot dismiss his employee if he chooses to exercise his right of refusal.

Pimps must also be registered with the government and meet strict criteria if they want an official license to run brothels.

They must not have previously been convicted of crimes such as voyeurism, sexual assault, abuse of prostitution, extortion or murder.

If approved, pimps would be required to install panic buttons in rooms, or alternatively a remote panic button if their work takes them outside a normal setting, and unions would be allowed access to workplaces at all times.

If a sex worker chooses to exercise his right of refusal more than ten times within six months, he or the pimp can request a government-backed mediator to come in and settle disputes.

If a sex worker wants to leave the industry, he can do so anonymously

If a sex worker wants to leave the industry, he can do so anonymously. Contracts signed by sex workers will be offered under the same heading as contracts for restaurant and hotel staff.

While other countries, including New Zealand, Germany and the Netherlands, legally recognize sex work, nowhere else in the world is sex work afforded the same protection.

The law was approved with 93 votes in favor, 33 abstentions and no votes against.

UTSOPI, the union for sex workers in Belgium, said new policies still need to be developed.

‘The new laws can be abused to combat sex work. We are already seeing that certain municipalities are hiding behind the words ‘safety’ and ‘hygiene’ and are issuing very strict local regulations that make sex work virtually impossible on their territory.

‘We must ensure that the new laws benefit all sex workers and do not result in a policy of chasing the most vulnerable sex workers.’