Maternity leave to sick days, Belgium becomes first country to grant rights to sex workers
PTC News Desk: In a first ever, Belgium becomes first country to grant fundamental rights to sex workers who can now have access to sick days, maternity leave and pension rights under a new law that came into effect on Sunday (December 1). The new law will ensure protection to sex workers from exploitation and violence and will also ensure that they are not sacked or humiliated for refusal to their partners.
Sex work was decriminalised in Belguim in 2022. They will now have the same rights in Belgium as any other employee in the country.
Belgium is amongst few countries which decriminalise prostitution. Others are New Zealand, the Netherlands and Nevada state in the US and some parts of Australia.
The rights will ensure sex workers have protextion against unlawful termination or other forms of exploitation by employer. And the law bars anyone who has been convicted of rape, homicide, trafficking and other violent offenses from employing sex workers.
Members of the Belgian government acknowledged that sex workers are often vulnerable or are forced into the job.
- With inputs from agencies
